Original Body structure Paper and composition of canoeists and kayakers
DOI: 10.5604/20831862.1133937
BODY STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF CANOEISTS AND KAYAKERS: ANALYSIS OF JUNIOR AND TEENAGE POLISH NATIONAL CANOEING TEAM AUTHORS: Hagner-Derengowska M1, Hagner W1, Zubrzycki IZ2, Krakowiak H3, Słomko W4,
Dzierżanowski M4, Rakowski A5, Wiącek-Zubrzycka M2
1
Rehabilitation Clinic, Department of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University,
Bydgoszcz, Poland Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea 3 Department of Anthropology, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University. Bydgoszcz, Poland 4 Department of Manual Therapy, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland 5 Provincial Centre of Sports Medicine, Bydgoszcz, Poland 2
Biol. Sport 2014;31:323-326
Accepted for publication 09.09.2013
Reprint request to: Wojciech Hagner Rehabilitation Clinic, Department of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland E-mail:
[email protected]
ABSTRACT: The somatic build, biological age, general state of health, mental predisposition and physical fitness are the criteria for selection of individuals in competitive sport. The present study aims to analys the differences in body structure and composition of canoeists and kayakers and derive conclusions regarding the criteria for selection of individuals incompetitive sport. The research was conducted on a group of 32 men aged between 17 and 22: 16 kayakers and 16 Canadian canoeists of the junior and teenage Polish national canoeing team. Body composition was examined by means of bioelectrical segmental impedance. Body build type was determined using the anthropometric Heath-Carter method. Statistical analysis was performed using the Welch t-test. The examination of morphological features reveals significant differences in the studied parameters between the canoeists and kayakers. There are also significant differences between competitors of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the studied group. We found that competitive kayakers should be taller than canoeists. The lower part of the body in kayakers is more developed than in canoeists and canoeists are more dehydrated than kayakers. KEY WORDS: somatotype, body composition, kayakers, canoeists,
INTRODUCTION Humans have been using boats since time immemorial. They were
canoes (C-1), double kneeling canoes (C-2) and four person kneel-
used for travelling, hunting and fighting. Depending on the actual
ing canoes (C-4) [2]. The kayak is a covered-deck boat equipped
conditions of living, various types of boats were built, including ca-
with a cockpit where the competitor sits facing forward. The Cana-
noes, used until today by Native Americans from the Iroquois, Sioux
dian canoe, on the other hand, is an open boat where, in contrast
and Apache tribes, and kayaks (qayaqs), used by the Eskimos [1].
to the kayak, no steering devices are allowed. In a canoe, the com-
In fact, the boat is an example of how humans have adapted to the
petitor is in a kneeling position and uses a single bladed paddle,
surrounding conditions. The difference between canoes and kayaks
whereas in the case of a kayak, a double bladed paddles is used [3].
is that the former are intended for relatively placid waters of rivers
Physiologically, canoeing may be characterised as follows: (1) the
and lakes, while kayaks are intended for sea waters (hence their
canoeist’s work has the same movement pattern independent of the
plating, manoeuvrability and speed).
external conditions, (2) the movement is rhythmical, systematic and
Canoeing became an Olympic discipline only during the Olympics
cyclic, (3) the pulse during a rest in canoeists is 55 beats per min-
in Berlin in 1936 and the first world championships took place in
ute. The cardiac ejection volume is around 90 ml and the vital capac-
1938 in Sweden. Canoeing is divided into flat-water (classical) and
ity of lungs is about 5400 ml [4,5],- (4). Alternating contraction and
white-water canoeing. Classical canoeing consists of kayaking and
relaxation phases occur, determining the dynamic nature of muscu-
Canadian canoeing. Kayaking and canoeing are technical sports. In
lar work, causing a substantial increase in metabolism which leads,
order to do such sports, special equipment apart from human strength
in consequence, to using up a considerable amount of energy and
is required: kayaks, Canadian canoes and paddles. Flat-water canoe-
utilising a maximal amount of oxygen [6,7]. (5) Canoeing is a sport
ing races involve single seat kayaks (K-1), double seated kayaks
which involves endurance and strength. (6) Work intensity is varied,
(K-2), four seated kayaks (K-4) as well as single kneeling Canadian
mostly high, sub-maximal and maximal [8]. The specific physiologBiology
of
Sport, Vol. 31 No4, 2014
323
Hagner-Derengowska M et al. ical requirements determine the somatic type of a competitor which
presented in the literature followed the normal distribution. We also
could be further used as an indicator of the selection process by
evaluated the distribution of our data by means of the Shapiro-Wilk
coaches. The aim of the present study is to create a scientific basis
test and quantile-quantile plot. For the data analysis we applied the
for finding individuals who are likely to achieve good results in the
Welch t-test. We are also aware that for studies involving more than
future in a given sport discipline. In our opinion the somatic build
two groups the one-way ANOVA is the appropriate approach. How-
together with the current age of the competitor, his/her state of health,
ever, we decided to use the t-test. For the ease of reading and writ-
mental predisposition and physical fitness are the criteria for selection
ing we refer to data gathered from the literature [12], -as sprint
of individuals. Therefore in the study we characterise the body struc-
paddlers. The original data presented in this study are referred to as
ture and body composition according to Sheldon somatic types [9]
canoeists and kayakers
in canoeists and Canadian canoeists, and compare the somatic types with those reported previously for competitors of the Sydney 2000
RESULTS
Olympic Games.
The statistical analysis of the basic morphological features (Table 1) such as body height (BH), body mass (BM), and body mass index
MATERIALS AND METHODS
(BMI) reveals the following results. There are statistically significant
The research was conducted on a group of 32 men aged between
differences between C and K and C and SP with respect to BH. The
17 and 22: 16 canoeists (age mean 18.687 +/- SD 1.401) and 16
analysis of BM shows statistically significant differences between C
Canadian canoeists (age mean 18.250 +/- SD 1.528) from the
and SP and K and SP. No statistical difference is observed between
junior and teenager Polish national team. Only volunteers who pro-
C and K. Statistically significant differences are observed between
vided informed consent in accordance with the procedures approved
C and K and K and SP, when analysing BMI.
by the Bioethics Commission of Collegium Medicum, University of
The analysis of Table 1 makes it clear that kayakers in the Polish
Nicolas Copernicus, Poland, were included in the study. The research
national team and participants of the Olympic Games are on average
was carried out at the Department of Anthropology, Collegium Med-
8 centimetres taller than canoeists. It also shows that BM of junior
icum, Nicolaus Copernicus University. Body composition was exam-
competitors is significantly lower than observed for Olympic paddlers
ined by means of a bioelectrical segmental impedance method using
and that BMI of canoeists is of the same order as SP. The results of
the “In Body 3.0” equipment ( Biospace Co. Ltd.). On the basis of
biotype analysis (Table 2) exhibit the following statistical differences.
the amount of water within a human body, the device calculates
There is a clear statistical difference in the endomorph component
body mass without fat, fat mass and mass of proteins and minerals.
between C and SP as well as K and SP. In the mesomorph compo-
It also allows one to examine examine lean body mass (LBM) in body
nent statistically significant differences are visible between all the
segments [10]. Body build type was determined by means of an-
studied groups, and in the ectomorph component statistically sig-
thropometric methods according to the Heath-Carter method [11].
nificant differences are observable between C and K and K and SP.
This method uses the measurements of body height, body mass,
Compared with K, the amount of mesomorphic element in C is
width of elbow and knee epiphysis (using a bow compass), arm and
higher. However, the mesomorphic element in SP is significantly
calf circumference (using a measuring tape) and four skin folds: on
higher than that observed for both C and K. The analysis of differ-
the arm, underneath the shoulder blade, above the iliac ala, and on
ences in the endomorphic element shows the lack of statistically
the calf, by means of a fat calliper.
significant differences between C and SP and significant differences between C and K and K and SP. It is striking that endomorphy is the
Statistical analysis
lowest in the group taking part in the Olympic Games. We also ob-
The statistical analysis of the data was performed by means of ap-
served specific differences between body composition of C and K
propriate t-statistics derived under the assumption that the data
(Table 3). There are statistical differences in LBM values of lower
TABLE 1. STATISTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BASIC TRAITS IN STUDIED SPORTSMEN Feature
Canoeists (C) (n=16)
Kayakers (K) (n=16)
Sprint paddlers* (SP) (n=50)
mean ± SD
mean ± SD
mean ± SD
Body height (cm)
176.9 ± 6.9
184.9 ± 5.8
Body mass (kg)
75.5 ± 8.0
78.1 ± 4.9
24.1 ± 1.2
22.8 ± 0.9
-2
Body mass index (kg · m )
Note: x refers to p
