title: Body composition and power changes in elite judo athletes.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between body composition changes, from a weight stable period to prior competition, on upper-body power in judo athletes. 27 top-level male athletes were evaluated at baseline (weight stable period) and 1-3 days before competition, with a time difference of approximately 1 month. Total body and extracellular water were estimated by dilution techniques (deuterium and bromide, respectively) and intracellular water was calculated as the difference. Body composition was assessed by DXA. A power-load spectrum was used to assess upper-body power output in a bench-press position. Comparison of means, bivariate, and partial correlations were used. Results indicate that though no significant mean changes were found in body composition and upper-body power, individual variability was large. Among all body composition changes, only total-body water (r=0.672; p<0.001) and intracellular water (r=0.596; p=0.001) were related to upper-body power variation. These associations remained significant after controlling for weight and arm lean-soft tissue changes (r=0.594, p=0.002 for total-body water; r=0.524, p=0.007 for intracellular water). These findings highlight the need for tracking total-body water, specifically the intracellular compartment in elite judo athletes in order to avoid reductions in upper-body power when a target body weight is desired prior to competition.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Exercise and Health Laboratory, Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal. analiza@fmh.utl.pt
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sardinha
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001834:Body Water / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001965:Bromides; D003903:Deuterium; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001965:Bromides; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D003903:Deuterium; C027938:sodium bromide