Somatotypes of Indian Athletes of Different Sports

Abstract

Somatotyping is the overall quantification of the morphology and categorization of physique using three numeral rating. Application of anthropometry and somatotype is well recognized in designing training programs and identifying talented athletes for different sports. 165 Indian elite athletes of different sports (football, wrestling, hockey, combat sports and athletics) including 18 control group individuals were somatotyped according to Heath and Carter devised method. Anthropometric measurements were taken following the International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry guidelines. The studied groups differentiated highly between each other while within-group variability was lower as compared to variability within the control group. Upon comparison with Olympic athletes, participants under study exhibited lower mesomorphs and higher endomorphy or ectomorphy.

Keywords

• Body mass index
• Nutritional status
• Sportspersons
• Somatotype