Correlations between body composition and balance parameters in athletes

This study aims at determining the correlations between body composition and balance parameters in athletes. 6 male and 6 female national team athletes, 7 male and 7 female national team skiers, 14 male and 11 female sedentary students attending Ağrı Ibrahim Çeçen University, 28 male and 9 female footballers who were in the school team of the same university, as well as 8 male and 6 female handball players – and thus a total of 77 athletes and 25 sedendaty athletes – who had not undergone medical operations in the last one year were included in the research. The participants' height and weight were measured initially. Then, their body composition was measured, trial measurements were performed so that they could adjust to the balance platform, and finally balance measurements were performed. The data on body composition were collected with Bodystat®1500 impedancemeter – equipment for body analysis, and the data concerning balance measurements were collected with test equipment called Technobodypro-Kin Type B 252. The study was done in the physiology laboratory of Ağrı Ibrahim Çeçen University School of Physical Education and Sports. The SPSS 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago II, USA) programme was used in statistical analyses. The data obtained were represented in averages, standard deviations, and in minimum and maximum values. Normality test was done through Shapiro-Wilk test. Correlation analysis was employed in determining the correlations between the parameters measured. Pearson's correlation coefficient was taken into consideration in parameters with normal distribution whereas Spearman's correlation coefficient was taken into consideration in parameters with no normal distribution. The results were evaluated in the 95% reliability interval, and the value of p<0.05 was considered significant. Accordingly, on examining the double feet static balance test averages for athletes and sedentary athletes, it was found that athletes were better than sedentary athletes. Values for dynamic balance demonstrated that male athletes were better than sedentary athletes and that the female athletes had values similar to sedentary athletes'. In addition to that, on examining participants' body compositions, it was found that athletes' body fat proportion, body fat, fat-free mass, basal metabolic rate and impedance values were lower than sedentary athetes' values but that their bodily fluid was more than sedentary athletes'. It was also found that there were no correlations between athletes' body fat percentages, amount of fat, dry mass, fat-free dry mass, bodily fluid, basal metabolic rate, body mass index, impedance values and static and dynamic balance. In consequence, it was found that athletes had better static balance values than sedentary athletes, that male athletes had better dynamic balance values, but that female athletes had values closer to sedentary athletes'. Besides, it was also found that athletes' values for body fat proportion, fat-free mass, basal metabolic rate, and impedance values were lower than those of sedentary athletes'. No correlations were found between body composition and static balance and dynamic balance. Key words: Athlete, body composition, static balance, dynamic balance