PhD, Associate Professor A.V. Posokhov¹
PhD, Associate Professor I.N. Nikulin¹
PhD, Associate Professor L.A. Kadutskaya¹
PhD V.A. Malakhov^1
1Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod

Keywords: arm wrestling, anthropometric measurements, strength indicators, indices, success in competitions.Background. Training process efficiency in modern sports largely depends on how well it is customized to the individual qualities and needs of the athletes. Many study reports of the last few years showed the anthropometric, morphological and functionality characteristics being correlated with competitive accomplishments in different sport disciplines and skill classes [5, 2-4]. National arm wrestling sport is ranked among the relatively young and dynamically progressing sport disciplines. It is only natural that this strength sport gives a high priority to the athletes’ anthropometric measurements on the whole and arms, forearms and wrist development and strength indices in particular, with a special attention to proportions of the arm morphology in the context of the muscular functionality biomechanics [6, 7, 8].

Objective of the study was to analyze the arm wrestlers’ anthropometric measurements in different weight classes versus their competitive success rates.

Methods and structure of the study. 58 arm wrestlers qualified for the 2017 Russian student competitions were sampled for the study purposes. The anthropometric characteristics included body length and mass; chest circumference; wrist length; forearm length; tensed shoulder circumference; tensed forearm circumference; and hand dynamometry – for the reason that it the upper limb physical strength index that is critical for success in this sport discipline. We applied an index method to analyze the anthropometric data arrays. The anthropometric data were obtained using the methods developed by the leading sport morphologists [1].

Study findings and discussion. Analysis of the average anthropometric measurements in the modern arm wrestling sport shows the body length/ weight, arm segment length/ circumference and wrist dynamometry growing with weight class: see Tables 1 and 2. More specifically, the analysis demonstrates the following.

By the Pignet Index (or Body Build Index used for evaluation of body build), the 55kg and 60kg weight class athletes were qualified with the medium frame and 65kg athletes with the large frame. Starting from the 70kg weight class, the Pignet Index varies under 10 that means the strong body build, and the higher is the weight the faster the index falls down – to as low as minus 34.9 for the 110kg weight class.

The Quetelet Index (or body mass index i.e. the body mass to body length ratio) was found to grow with the weight class to reach as much as 567.2 g/ cm in the heaviest weight class.

By the Erismann (chest size to body length) index, the 60+kg weight classes were qualified with the ‘wide chest’ category, with the widest chest of 22.4cm in the 110kg weight class.

The strength indices are the highest in the light weight classes and tend to fall with the weight class since they measure strength in relation to body weight.

The shoulder to forearm length index was found to show no correlation with the weight class varying within the range of 127-141% albeit many arm wrestlers were widely different in this index.

The shoulder to forearm size (circumference) index was found to grow with the weight class. 

On the whole, the above anthropometric measurements may be interpreted as characteristic of the well developed shoulder girdle, upper limbs and chest in the sampled arm wrestlers.

Of special interest are the anthropometric measurements of champions in some weight classes. Thus the champion in the 70kg weight class was tested with the following group-best rates: wrist dynamometry (90kg/ 75kg for the right/ left wrists) and strength indices (128.6% and 107.2%, respectively). Champion in the 85kg weight class was tested with the highest shoulder to forearm length index of 140.4%; albeit the champion in the 90kg weight class was tested with the group lowest shoulder to forearm length index of 125.8%. Each of these athletes is many times winner of the world cups and championships.

Table 1. Arm wrestlers’ anthropometric measurements for the 55-75kg weight classes

Table 2. Arm wrestlers’ anthropometric measurements for the 80-110kg weight classes

Furthermore, the champion of the 110kg weight class was tested with the highest Pignet index and one of the highest Quetelet indices. Ranked first in the 110kg weight class was the athlete with the highest Pignet and Quetelet indices with the low shoulder to forearm length index of 126.9%.

Conclusion. Our tests and analyses of the arm wrestlers’ anthropometric measurements showed the natural growth of the arm segment lengths and sizes and other anthropometric indices with weight class. However, analysis of the anthropometric measurements versus the competitive success rates showed the champions in different weight classes having the group-highest anthropometric, strength and body morphology (Pignet and Quetelet) indices. This means that some anthropometric measurements are correlated with the competitive success rates. The study data and analyses showed the athletes with the longest (long shoulder) and shortest (long forearm) shoulder-to-forearm length ratios having some advantage in this sport discipline.

References:

1. Aleksanyants G.D. et al. Sportivnaya morfologiya. Ucheb. posobie dlya studentov vuzov, obuchayuschikhsya po napravleniyu 032100 i spetsialnosti, 032101, dop. Feder. agentstvom po fiz. kulture i sportu [Sports morphology. Textbook for university students majoring in 032100 and specialty 032101, ext. Feder. agency for nat. culture and sport]. Moscow: Sov. sport publ., 2005, 91 p.
2. Volkova E.S., Salnikova E.P., Grebneva A.S. Morfologicheskie pokazateli studentov-sportsmenov razlichnykh spetsializatsiy [Morphological indicators of student-athletes of various specializations]. Uchenye zapiski SPbGMU im. akad. I.P. Pavlova, 2011, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 42-44.
3. Voronkov A.V., Nikulin I.N., Filatov M.S. Osobennosti razvitiya sily myshts-sgibateley kisti i paltsev v armsporte [Hand and finger flexor muscle strength: development features in armsport]. Kultura fizicheskaya i zdorovye, 2010, no. 4 (29), pp. 18-20.
4. Zekrin A.F., Zekrin F.Kh., Zebzeev V.V. Antropometricheskie osobennosti dzyudoistov-yuniorov raznykh vesovykh grupp [Anthropometric characteristics of junior judokas of different weight categories]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2015, no. 4, pp. 11-13.
5. Nikityuk D.B., et al. Antropometricheskiy status sportsmenov raznoy spetsializatsii i kvalifikatsii [Anthropometric status of athletes of different specializations and skill levels]. Uchenye zapiski SPbGMU im. akad. I.P. Pavlova, 2011, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 98-99.
6. Podrigalo L.V. Monitoring funktsionalnogo sostoyaniya sportsmenov v armsporte: mediko-biologicheskie i sportivno-pedagogicheskie aspekty [Monitoring of functional condition of armwrestlers: biomedical and sports-pedagogical aspects]. Kharkov: KhNMU publ., 2010, 149 p.
7. Posokhov A.V., Nikulin I.N., Voronkov A.V. Analiz antropomorfologicheskikh osobennostey armrestlerov razlichnogo urovnya podgotovlennosti [Study of anthropomorphological characteristics of arm wrestlers with various fitness levels]. Mater. Vseros. nauch.-prakt. konf. s mezhdunar. uchastiem 'Razvitie fizicheskoy kultury i sporta v kontekste samorealizatsii cheloveka v sovremennykh sotsialno-ekonomicheskikh usloviyakh' [Proc. nat. res.-practical conf. with intern. participation 'Development of physical education and sports in the context of self-actualization of man in modern socio-economic environment']. Lipetsk: LSPU n.a. P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shanskiy, 2017, pp. 279-282.
8. Podrigalo L.V., Iermakov S.S., Jagie О.W. (2017).  Special indices of body composition as a criterion of somatic development of martial arts practitioners. Arch Budo Sci Martal Art Extreme Sport; 13: 5-12.

Corresponding author: posohov@bsu.edu.ru

Objective of the study was to analyze the arm wrestlers’ anthropometric measurements in different weight classes versus their competitive success rates. 58 arm wrestlers qualified for the 2017 Russian University Competitions were subject to the study. The anthropometric measurements included body length and mass; chest circumference; wrist length; forearm length; tensed shoulder circumference; tensed forearm circumference; and hand dynamometry – for the reason that it is the upper limb physical strength rate that is critical for success in this sport discipline. We applied an index method to analyze the anthropometric data arrays. The anthropometric data were obtained using the methods offered by the leading sport morphologists. The study data and analyses showed the athletes with the longest (long shoulder) and shortest (long forearm) shoulder-to-forearm ratios having some advantage in this sport discipline.