Authors:
Giada Ballarin
1
;
Fabiana Monfrecola
1
;
Paola Alicante
1
;
Rossella Chierchia
1
;
Maurizio Marra
2
;
Anna Maria Sacco
1
and
Luca Scalfi
1
Affiliations:
1
Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Via S. Pansini 5, Naples, Italy
;
2
Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Via S. Pansini 5, Naples, Italy
Keyword(s):
High Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), Physical Fitness, Body Composition, BIA, Phase Angle, Impedance Ratio.
Abstract:
Few data are available on body composition and its relationships with physical fitness in Cross-Fit® athletes. Our study aimed to evaluate changes in raw bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) variables and their relationships with physical fitness in male Cross-Fit® athletes. Fifteen male Cross-Fit® athletes (age 19-35 years, weight 83.8±5.6 kg, body mass index-BMI 26.0±1.9 kg/m²) and fifty-one control men, (age 20-30 years, weight 76.5±10.8 kg, BMI 24.6±3.2 kg/m²) participated in the study. Body composition was evaluated by using BIA and physical fitness was assessed by measuring handgrip strength (HGS), long jump (L-J), squat jump (SQ-J) and counter-movement jump (CM-J). Phase angles were higher and impedance ratios were lower in Cross-Fit® athletes for the whole body and limbs (both these directly-measured raw BIA variables are promising markers of muscle quality). HGS was only slightly higher in the Cross-Fit® group, whereas a clear difference emerged between groups in L-J (+16
.2% in Cross-Fit® athletes), SQ-J (+21.5%) and CM-J (+21.5%). HGS, L-J, SQ-J and CM-J significantly correlated with both impedance ratios and phase angles (for whole body and limbs). In conclusion, raw BIA variables such as impedance ratio and phase angle significantly change in Cross-Fit® athletes compared to controls and also exhibit significant relationships with physical fitness.
(More)