Characterization of anthropometric and physical fitness factors in Colombian skaters by gender using principal component analysis

Abstract

Background. Few studies analyze skaters' profiles through morphological and functional variables. Objective. The objective of this study was to characterize the profiles of a sample of skaters based on anthropometric and physical fitness (PF) variables in response to sex. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study. The sample was intentionally selected. Twenty-eight skaters (15 men and 13 women) were evaluated. Anthropometry and physical fitness (PF) tests were performed: Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Countermovement Jump with Arms (CMJA), Single Leg Countermovement Jump (SJLCMJ), and hamstring strength (HS). Differences between the various tests for men and women were analyzed using the one-tailed non-parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The maximum distances between the data distributions were obtained using the D test statistic. Next, to identify the profile of each test in men and women, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used. The variables were scaled and centered (Z-score). To define the statistical parameter for PCA, the determinant of the Kendall correlation matrix was used. Results. The differences in anthropometric variables in response to gender for the skaters are presented in Table 1. Statistically significant differences were found for the skinfolds, biceps (p=0.00), and leg (p=0.00). Regarding the perimeters, differences were found for only two of the six, including the flexed arm (p=0.00) and waist (p=0.00). Finally, the diameters were determined for the humerus (p=0.00) and biostyloid (p=0.00). The main differences were found for jump height in SJ (p=0.01), CMJ (p=0.032), and CMJA (p=0.018), and for the velocity variable (p=0.013). In contrast, no significant differences were found for the power variable in the three jumps. Meanwhile, for SLCMJ, differences in response to gender were only found for the Push-off Distance (p=0.001) and Jump Height Right (p=0.03) variables. For HS, differences were found for the lever arm (p=0.03) and torque (p=0.03) variables. PC1 for men represents 44% of the total variance and is characterized by variables related to circumferences, while PC1 for women is composed of skinfold variables and humeral diameter. The PC1 for men in PF was characterized by variables associated with SJ, CMJ, CMJA, and SLCMJ, while the PC1 for women collected information on SJ, CMJ, and CMJA jumps, and to a lower extent, SLCMJ variables. Conclusions. Sex is a determining variable in the performance expressed by skaters. This can help facilitate training planning processes, considering the specificity of the sport and the characteristics of the athletes.