Effect of body size and gender in overarm throwing performance

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maximum isometric strength, anthropometry and maximum velocity in overarm throwing for male and female experienced handball players. Twenty male and 20 female handball players were tested. The mean ball velocity was 23.2 m s−1 and 19.1 m s−1 for male and female handball players, respectively. For males and females, similar correlations were found between maximal isometric strength and throwing velocity (men, r=0.43, P=0.056; women, r=0.49, P=0.027). Univariate analysis of variance between isometric strength and throwing velocity for men and women showed no significant effect of gender (F2,36=0.116, P=0.89). Body size had a strong positive effect on the throwing performance and isometric strength. Throwing velocity appeared to be affected by gender when size was expressed by mass or height (P<0.001). However, this dependence was completely explained by size differences when expressed as fat-free body mass (FFM). For strength, no gender effect was found at all, i.e. all gender differences were explained by size differences, irrespective on how this was expressed. The finding that strength and velocity show a gender independent relationship strengthens the notion that gender difference is based on difference in muscle bulk. We conclude that FFM, as an approximation for skeletal muscle mass, is the best measure to express body size when related to physical performance.

[1]  Richard H. Jones.  Analysis of repeated measures , 1992 .

[2]  Sidhu Ls,et al.  Anthropometric and roentgenogrammetric assessment of physique and body composition of athletes specialising in throwing events. , 1975 .

[3]  P. Vanderburgh,et al.  Allometric Modeling of the Bench Press and Squat: Who Is the Strongest Regardless of Body Mass? , 2000 .

[4]  A S Jackson,et al.  Modeling the influence of body size on V(O2) peak: effects of model choice and body composition. , 1999, Journal of applied physiology.

[5]  J. Durnin,et al.  Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 Years , 1974, British Journal of Nutrition.

[6]  W. Siri.  Body volume measurement by gas dilution , 1961 .

[7]  G. J. van Ingen Schenau,et al.  Force, velocity and energy flow during the overarm throw in female handball players. , 1985, Journal of biomechanics.

[8]  L S Sidhu,et al.  Anthropometric and roentgenogrammetric assessment of physique and body composition of athletes specialising in throwing events. , 1975, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[9]  T. Housh,et al.  Anthropometric and body build variables as discriminators of event participation in elite adolescent male track and field athletes , 1984 .

[10]  S. Toyoshima,et al.  Force-velocity relation in throwing. , 1973, Research quarterly.

[11]  R. Tillaar.  Effect of different constraints on coordination and performance in overarm throwing. , 2003 .

[12]  J. Hoff,et al.  The Effects of Maximum Strength Training on Throwing Velocity and Muscle Strength in Female Team‐Handball Players , 1995 .

[13]  F. Katch,et al.  Anthropometric, strength, and performance characteristics of American world class throwers. , 1982, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[14]  Sarah L. Smith,et al.  Upper Extremity Isokinetic Torque and Throwing Velocity in Team Handball , 1992 .

[15]  T. Olds,et al.  Anthropometrica : a textbook of body measurement for sports and health courses , 1996 .

[16]  F. Hainsworth.  Scaling: why is animal size so important? , 1985 .

[17]  S C Hollings,et al.  Body build and performance characteristics of male adolescent track and field athletes. , 1991, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.