title: Differences in fat-free mass and muscle thicknesses at various sites according to performance level among judo athletes.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in fat-free mass and thicknesses of various muscles among judo athletes of different performance levels. The subjects were 69 male judo athletes of 3 different performance levels. Group A was composed of athletes who participated in the Olympic Games or Asian Games (n = 13). Groups B (n = 21) and C (n = 35) were composed of judo athletes at a university who did or did not participate in intercollegiate competitions (including qualifying matches), respectively. Muscle and fat thicknesses were measured by B-mode ultrasound at 9 sites. Fat percentage was calculated from fat thicknesses using a previously reported equation. Fat-free mass was calculated from fat percentage and body weight. Muscles thicknesses were normalized to the height of the individual. Group A had significantly larger fat-free mass than Group C (p < 0.05). The normalized thicknesses of the elbow extensor and flexor muscles were significantly larger in Group A than in Group C. The normalized thickness of the elbow flexor muscle was significantly larger in Group A than in Group B. The results of this study showed that judo athletes with low performance levels such as those in Group C had lower fat-free mass, and the degree of development of the brachialis muscles differed according to performance level.
authors.affiliation: Heisei International University, Saitama, Japan. kubo.junjiro@jiss.naash.go.jp
authors.forename: Junjiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Takeharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chishaki
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saitou
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kukidome
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging