Relationship between performance test and body composition/physical strength characteristic in sprint canoe and kayak paddlers

Abstract

Saki Hamano,1 Eisuke Ochi,2 Yosuke Tsuchiya,3 Erina Muramatsu,4 Kazuhiro Suzukawa,5 Shoji Igawa1 1Department of Sports Nutrition, Nippon Sport Science University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 2Graduate School of Education, Okayama University, Okayama, 3Laboratory of Health and Sports Sciences, Meiji Gakuin University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 4Department of Natural Sciences, Nippon Sport Science University, Setagaya, Tokyo, .5Laboratory of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Nippon Sport Science University, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan Objective: Canoe sprint is divided into canoe and kayak. The difference between the two competitions is in physical performance. The aim of the present study was to compare and investigate the relationship between physical characteristics and fitness between the two canoe sprint competitors. Methods: Subjects were 11 canoe paddlers (C) and 12 kayak paddlers (K). They underwent anthropometric characteristics, body composition and fitness tests, and 120 s all-out tests using a canoe and kayak ergometer. The unpaired t-test was used to test for significant differences between disciplines, while Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine the association between each measurement item and the performance test. Results: The age, height, body mass, body mass index, and total body fat were, C: 20.6±0.9 yr, 172.8±5.2 cm, 70.8±7.8 kg, 23.7±1.9, 14.4%±3.5%; and K: 19.7±1.2 yr, 172.8±5.3 cm, 69.5±7.8 kg, 23.2±2.1, 12.1%±3.6%, respectively. No significant differences were seen in any of the items for physical characteristics or fitness between C and K. A correlation analysis of performance tests and each measurement item revealed a positive correlation with low-speed isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength for C only (extension: r=0.761; flexion: r=0.784; P<0.01). In addition, performance tests were positively correlated with the circumference of arm (upper arm: r=0.876; forearm: r=0.820; P<0.01) and lower limb (thigh: r=0.781; calf: r=0.753; P<0.01) in C and with height (r=0.549, P<0.05), arm span (r=0.639, P<0.05), and leg length (r=0.621, P<0.01) in K. Conclusion: We suggest that the factors correlating with the performance test differ depending on the competitions. Keywords: canoe sprint, kayak, body composition, isokinetic strength, morphology