Comparison of upper and lower limb skeletal muscle mass and maximum anaerobic power among four throwing events and their relationship to throwing performance in female throwers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the upper and lower limb of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and maximum anaerobic power (MAP) in female throwers. First, compared SMM and MAP between the four throwing events. Second, examined the relationship between MAP with SMM, and the relationship between MAP with throwing performance. Twenty-six female collegiate throwers participated in this study. SMM was measured using the body impedance analysis method. MAP was estimated from several loads and cranking or pedaling speeds (force-velocity relationship) using a bicycle ergometer. The results were as follows. The mean and standard deviation of body height, body weight, lean body mass, SMM of upper and lower limbs (both sides) were 162.3±3.7cm, 70.1±9.4kg, 50.7±4.4kg, 5.3±0.6kg, and 15.0±1.4kg, respectively. Shot put group was showed significantly higher values than those of other groups. MAP (and MAP/body weight) of the upper and lower limbs were 451±81W (6.4±0.8W/kg) and 830±130W (11.8±1.7W/kg), respectively. No significant differences were observed among the four groups. SMM was related to each of MAP of the upper limbs (r=0.689: p=0.0001) and lower limbs (r=0.592: p=0.0015). World Athletics Scores for each throwing best performance were associated with MAP of the upper limbs (r=0.465: p=0.017), lower limbs (r=0.606: p=0.001), and total power (r=0.586: p=0.002). These results suggest that the evaluation of SMM and MAP of the upper and lower limbs are useful for the control test of throwers.