The Role of Somatic Maturation on Bioimpedance Patterns and Body Composition in Male Elite Youth Soccer Players

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 16; no. 23; p. 4711
• Main Authors: Campa, Francesco, Silva, Analiza Monica, Iannuzzi, Vincenzo, Mascherini, Gabriele, Benedetti, Luca, Toselli, Stefania
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.11.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age; Anthropometry; Athletes; Bayesian analysis; Bioelectricity; Body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Body fat; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electric Impedance; Humans; Italy; Male; Maturation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscles; Physical properties; Players; Puberty - physiology; Regression analysis; Soccer; Soccer - physiology; Software; Sports injuries; Statistical analysis; Studies; Thigh; Variables; Young Adult; Italy; vector length; phase angle; R–Xc graph; BIVA; peak at velocity
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234711

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of chronological age (CA) and somatic maturation on body composition (BC) and bioimpedance parameters in male elite soccer players. BC and bioimpedance variables were measured in a sample of 249 players aged 9-18 years of age and registered in two professional Italian soccer teams. Results from segmental analysis showed transition time points where the influence of CA and somatic maturation on bioimpedance patterns and BC characteristics increased or subsided. The accelerated phases were assessed for fat free mass, total body water, and upper muscle area, with a starting time point at approximately -2.00 years from peak at velocity (YPHV), and for body cell mass, whose developmental tempo sped up around -1.00 YPHV. An increase in the rate of development was also observed close to -2.00 YPHV for phase angle (PA), although without accelerated phases. From a CA point of view, significant slope changes were found for all BC and bioimpendance variables, except for the calf muscle area. Although the starting points and the span of the accelerated phases were different, they subsided or disappeared at ~ 15 years, except for PA, whose growth waned at ~ 17 years.