Anthropometric characteristics of young Italian tennis players

Authors

  • Ausilia Elce Pegasus University, Italy
  • Giuseppe Cardillo MeriGen Research srl, Naples, Italy
  • Mauro Ventriglia Pegasus University, Italy
  • Caterina Giordano Pegasus University, Italy
  • Francesca Amirante Pegasus University, Italy
  • Giuliana Mazza Pegasus University, Italy
  • Armando Sangiorgio University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
  • Lucia Martiniello Pegasus University, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2017.123.09

Keywords:

Anthropometry, Tennis, Growth, Exercise, Children, Bone

Abstract

Purpose. Aim of our study is to observe specific body differences induced by training in young agonist tennis players at pre-pubertal and pubertal age, using anthropometry. Method. We analyzed 101 tennis players (27 females and 74 males) coming from South Italy, aged 8-14, which played tennis from at least 1 year. Anthropometric measurements like wrist, mid-thigh, mid-arm circumferences and arms length were compared between dominant and not dominant side of the body. Results. The mean Z-score for females was 0.9627, corresponding to the 83.22th centile of Italian growth chart, the mean Z-score for males was 1.0157, corresponding to 84.51th centile of Italian growth chart. For weight the mean Z-score for females was 0.2394 (59.46th centile) and the mean Z-score for males was 0.4032 (65.66th centile). The mean Z-score for females Body Mass Index was -0.1451 (44.23th centile), instead the mean Z-score for males was -0.0768 (46.94th centile). The Wilcoxon test reported a statistically significant difference between dominant and not dominant wrist circumferences regardless of sex (p-value=1.87e-10). Conclusions. Our study revealed that playing tennis starting from childhood may be useful for a regular growth. Analysis of wrist circumference and height may confirm the osteogenic potential of the sport.

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Statistics

Statistics RUA

Published

2017-09-26

How to Cite

Elce, A., Cardillo, G., Ventriglia, M., Giordano, C., Amirante, F., Mazza, G., Sangiorgio, A., & Martiniello, L. (2017). Anthropometric characteristics of young Italian tennis players. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 12(3), 651–658. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2017.123.09

Issue

Section

Sport Medicine, Nutrition & Health