Developmental associations with muscle morphology, physical performance, and asymmetry in youth judo athletes

Physical performance and somatic maturity in male and female judo athletes: An analysis in different age categories

BACKGROUND

Maturity status is an important parameter to understand physical performance in young judo athletes, especially considering different age categories.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of each age category (U13, U15, and U18) on physical performance between and within the age groups.

METHODS

Sixty-five male athletes from the U13 (n = 17), U15 (n = 30), and U18 categories (n = 18), and 28 female from the U13 (n = 9), U15 (n = 15), and U18 categories (n = 4) participated in this study. The assessments were performed at two moments separated by 48 h and included anthropometric measurements and physical tests (standing long jump, medicine ball throw, handgrip strength, Special Judo Fitness Test, and Judogi Grip Strength Test). The athletes also provided their date of birth and judo experience. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation were used with significant level set at 5%.

RESULTS

The main results showed higher values of somatic variables (maturity status and body size) and physical performance in the U18 compared to U15 and U13 in male and female (p < 0.05), but no differences between U15 and U13 (p > 0.05). In general, training experience, chronological age, and somatic variables were correlated (moderate to very large magnitude) with physical performance in all age categories for male (r = 0.40-0.66, p < 0.05) and female groups (r = 0.49-0.73, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We concluded that U18 athletes showed higher values of somatic maturity, training experience, and physical performance compared to U13 and U15 categories, with no differences between U13 and U15. In general, training experience, chronological age, and somatic variables were correlated with physical performance in all age categories.

Judo specific fitness test performance variation from morning to evening: specific warm-ups impacts performance and its diurnal amplitude in female judokas

BACKGROUND

A number of specific tests are used to standardize competition performance. Specific Judo fitness test (SJFT) can be applied by considering the start of the competition qualifiers in the morning and the continuation of the final competitions in the evening. The improvement of test performances can be achieved with warm-up for elevating heart rate (HR) and muscle temperature such as raise, activate, mobilise, potentiate (RAMP) protocols.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different warm-up protocols on SJFT at different times of the day in female judokas.

METHODS

Ten volunteer women participated in this study, who regularly participated in judo training for more than 5 years and actively competed in international competitions. Judokas completed SJFT, either after no warm-up, or RAMP protocols like specific warm-up (SWU), and dynamic warm-up for two times a day in the morning: 09:00-10:00 and in the evening: 16:00-17:00, with at least 2 days between test sessions. The following variables were recorded: throws performed during series A, B, and C; the total number of throws; HR immediately and 1 min after the test, and test index after different warm-ups.

RESULTS

When analyzed evening compared to the morning without discriminating three warm-up protocols, evening results statistically significant number of total throws performed during series A, B, and C, the total number of throws; HR immediately and 1 min after the test, and test index than morning results (p < 0.01). Moreover, RAMP protocols interaction with time have demonstrated an impact on SJFT for index [F₍₂₎ = 4.15, p = 0.024, η_p²: 0.19] and changes after 1 min HR [F_(1.370)= 7.16, p = 0.008, η_p²: 0.29]. HR after 1 min and test index results were statistically significant in favor of SWU (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, SJFT performance showed diurnal variation and judo performances of the judokas can be affected more positively in the evening hours especially after RAMP protocols.

Age and Maturity Effects on Morphological and Physical Performance Measures of Adolescent Judo Athletes

Studies assessing age and maturation effects on morphological and physical performance measures of young judokas are scarce. This study aimed to assess the independent and combined effects of chronological age and biological maturation on anthropometry and physical performance of 67 judokas aged 11-14. Participants’ anthropometric profiles were assessed, and physical performance tests were completed. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed an independent effect of age (anthropometry: F = 1.871; p < 0.05; Pillai’s trace = 0.545; η²_p = 0.272; physical performance: F = 2.876; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.509; η²_p = 0.254) and maturity (anthropometry: F = 10.085; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.669; η²_p = 0.669; physical performance: F = 11.700; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.581; η²_p = 0.581). There was no significant combined effect of age and maturity. The maturation effect remained significant when controlled for age (anthropometry: F = 4.097; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.481; η²_p = 0.481; physical performance: F = 3.859; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.0.318; η²_p = 0.318). Inadolescent judokas, the maturation effect on growth and physical performance seems to be more relevant than the age effect, leading to the need to control this effect in training routines and competitive events. As in studies with youth soccer players and other youth athletes, bio-banding can be a strategy for controlling maturation in combat sports.

Body Size Measurements and Physical Performance of Youth Female Judo Athletes with Differing Menarcheal Status

Purpose: To compare body size measurements and physical performance among female youth judo athletes with differing menarcheal status and to identify indicators of physical performance in post-menarcheal girls. Methods: Nineteen young female judo athletes (age 13.9 ± 2.3 years) were divided into a pre-menarche (n = 7) and a post-menarche (n = 12) group. The athletes were evaluated through neuromuscular tests, including standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), and handgrip strength (HGS), and judo-specific assessments, including the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) and the Judogi Grip Strength Test (JGST_ISO). Furthermore, years of experience in judo and the age at menarche were determined. Results: The main results showed higher performance for the post-menarche group for most variables (p < 0.05) compared to the pre-menarche group. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age at menarche, chronological age, and body mass explained close to 70% of JGST_ISO, while training experience, chronological age, and age at menarche explained close to 59% of SLJ. Additionally, chronological age and age at menarche explained 40% of MBT, and chronological age and height explained 52% of HGS. Conclusions: Age at menarche and somatic growth variables explained moderate proportions of the variance of physical performance, thereby providing evidence that these parameters are the primary indicators of physical performance in young female judo athletes.

Vastus lateralis muscle volume prediction in early-adolescent boys

The applicability of a simplified approach for muscle volume assessment, based on multiplying muscle length, maximum anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA_max) and a muscle-specific shape factor, was investigated in the present study for the vastus lateralis muscle of early-adolescent boys. Muscle length, ACSA_max and volume were calculated from magnetic resonance image muscle reconstructions of early-adolescent athletes (n = 14) and untrained peers (n = 10). A cohort-specific shape factor was obtained from the ratio of the measured volume and the product of ACSA_max and muscle length, which did not differ significantly between trained and untrained adolescents despite significant differences in anthropometry and muscle dimensions. Further, muscle volumes assessed based on the cohort-specific shape factor did not differ significantly from the measured muscle volumes with an average root mean square difference (RMS) of 4.6%. Muscle volumes assessed with a shape factor previously reported for the vastus lateralis of adults were however significantly higher in comparison to the measured muscle volumes (P < 0.001; RMS = 8.5%). These results indicate that a cohort-specific shape factor should be applied when assessing vastus lateralis muscle volume in early-adolescents as muscle development from childhood to adulthood seems to be accompanied by changes in muscle shape.

Physical Performance in Young Judo Athletes: Influence of Somatic Maturation, Growth, and Training Experience

Purpose: To determine the individual contributions of chronological age, somatic maturation, body size and composition, and training experience as indicators of performance in neuromuscular and judo-specific assessments in young athletes. Methods: Sixty-six youth judo athletes performed anthropometric measurements, neuromuscular tests-standing long jump test (SLJ), medicine ball throw test (MBT), handgrip strength test (HGS), and judo-specific tests-Special Judo Fitness test (SJFT) and Judogi Grip Isometric Strength Test (JGST_ISO). A multiple linear regression was used with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: The main results showed age-peak height velocity (PHV), body fat and training experience explained close to 20% of SJFT performance. Chronological age, age-PHV, height, body mass and body fat accounted for 42% of variance in JGST_ISO. Chronological age, body fat and training experience explained 35% of the variance in SLJ, while chronological age, body mass and body fat explained 53% of the variance in MBT. Finally, age-PHV, body mass and height explained 54% of the variance in HGS. Conclusion: Estimated age-PHV and growth variables explained moderate to large proportions of the variance in neuromuscular tests (with exception of SLJ), while both estimated age-PHV, training and growth variables were predictors of judo-specific performance.