Anthropometric Profile and Position-Specific Changes in Segmental Body Composition of Professional Football Players Throughout a Training Period
Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka,
Karolina Krupa-Kotara,
Mateusz Rozmiarek,
Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko,
Mateusz Grajek,
Saioa Agirre Elordui,
Jokin Urriolabeitia Razkin,
Arkaitz Castañeda Babarro
Affiliations
Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka
Department of Food Technology and Quality Evaluation, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland
Karolina Krupa-Kotara
Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
Mateusz Rozmiarek
Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland
Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko
Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland
Mateusz Grajek
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
Saioa Agirre Elordui
Department of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Jokin Urriolabeitia Razkin
Department of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Arkaitz Castañeda Babarro
Department of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
Body and anthropometric profiles of football players vary depending on the physiological and technical demands imposed by different positions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the body composition of professional soccer players in relation to their position on the field during a training macrocycle. The Direct Segmental Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method was used to analyze 58 players at six key moments of the macrocycle. The results show that body profiles are adjusted to the specific demands of each position. Midfielders showed the lowest muscle mass, while defenders showed many notable changes. In general, as the season progressed, all field players experienced an increase in trunk body fat. Fat and lean mass values of goalkeepers differed greatly from the rest. The greatest variations in body composition were observed during pre-season and transition in relation to variations in training load and competitive intensity. The results suggest that the phase of the macrocycle has a greater influence on these variations, although the physical characteristics of each position are relevant. Understanding these dynamics allows for the design of more personalized and efficient training programs to optimize the performance of footballers according to their roles and each stage of the season.
