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Aim of this study was to investigate leaping ability and morphological characteristics in rhythmic gymnastics, in order to verify which parameters are useful indicators for the talent identification.Twenty-five national gymnasts of international level (age 14.7+/-2.2 years) underwent three testing sessions: anthropometric measurements, vertical jumps (counter movement jump and hopping test), and three technical split leaps with stretched legs (SL), with ring (RG) and with back bend of the trunk (BBT).Elite had significantly different values (P0.05) of stature (1.65+/-0.03 vs 1.55+/-0.09 m), thigh length (0.42+/-0.03 vs 0.39+/-0.02 m) and FFM(42.42+/-2.81 vs 35.84+/-5.66 kg) compared to sub-elite. The height of hopping test was significantly higher in elite than sub-elite gymnasts (0.34+/-0.05 vs 0.27+/-0.04 m; P0.05), but no significant differences in counter movement jump between two groups were found. Ground contact time of hopping test was significantly correlated (P0.01) with SL (r = 0.613), RG (r = 0.632), and BBT (r = 0.542) values. By multiple regression analysis, among anthropometric and vertical jump variables, the hopping ground contact time was the strongest predictor of ground contact time of the three technical leaps (SL, RG, BBT) accounting for 26-37% of variance.Some anthropometric measurements are good indicators for the better performance in rhythmic gymnastics. Level of muscle compliance (stiffness) evaluated by hopping test is a good parameter for athletes selection and for monitoring leaps training.

The present study is aimed to investigate anthropometrics and body composition characteristics in pre and post menarcheal Italian adolescent girls. A cross sectional survey was carried out with 844 girls aged 11 to 14 years old, recruited from May, 2006 to May, 2012. Height, weight, circumference (hip and waist) and skinfolds (triceps and subscapolar) were measured; BMI and waist hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Percentage of body fat mass was deduced by skinfold equations (Slaughter et al. 1988). The status quo method was used to evaluate the age at menarche. We found that menarcheal girls were taller and heavier than non menarcheal ones in all ages, and often with significant differences (p

In rugby there is a close relationship between body size of athletes, body composition and sporting success, both individually and as a team. The determination of anthropometric characteristics may then become an important instrument for the selection of athletes by managers and coaches. The analysis presented here aims to investigate the variability of body composition in athletes of professional and amateur level, taking into account the differences determined by role played by players. The results are evaluated considering also frequency and duration of training sessions conducted weekly by professionals and by amateurs. The sample consists of 66 athletes, aged between 18 and 35 years. Professional athletes are 38 (28 Forwards and 10 Backs) and amateur athletes 28 (17 Forwards and 11 Backs). The anthropometric characteristics presented here are height, weight and those that are useful to calculate body composition (skifolds: triceps, pectoral, axillary, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal and thigh) using the equations of Jackson & Pollock (1978), suggested as valid for athletes (Sinning 1996), and Siri. Through a questionnaire has been possible to determine number and hours of weekly training. Professional athletes show higher heights, less body fat and more muscular mass in comparison with amateur athletes. The differences between the roles denote higher values of height, weight, lean mass and also fat mass in forwards than backs. In conclusion, we can detect a similar trend in anthropometric characteristics and body composition in the comparison of roles in the two grade levels. These differences are more pronounced in professional athletes suggesting a guideline in considering the character issues and selective for the success of the discovery of new talents.

Obesity is a major public health problem throughout most of the world, but in some areas both obesity and undernutrition coexist. Although overweight and obesity among Italian children have received attention, there is a need for information about the other extreme, underweight. There is also a need for further understanding of the functional consequences of variation in nutritional status. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional status of Italian children in the context of growth, body composition and functional characteristics. The sample included 296 school children, 147 males and 149 females, from Cento (Ferrara – Emilia-Romagna). The children were followed longitudinally for three years. The short-term longitudinal study is a preliminary phase of a broader project dealing with modifications in body composition and physical activity associated with growth. Anthropometric dimensions included weight, height, sitting height, eight circumferences (normal chest, maximum chest, minimum chest, relaxed arm, contracted arm, wrist, thigh, calf), eight skinfold thicknesses (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, subspinal, thight, medial and lateral calf), and breadths of the humeral and femoral epicondyles. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated and used to classify children as underweight and overweight/obese using the cut-off values proposed for central-north Italian. Tracking was defined as maintaining underweight, overweight, or obesity status over the three year interval. Percentage fat was estimated with the procedures of Slaughter et al.; fat-free mass and fat mass were derived. Functional characteristics were limited to lower back/upper thigh flexibility (sit and reach) and grip strength. The growth status of children from Cento approximate reference values for the Italian population. The prevalence of underweight is higher in females, but the prevalence of overweight/obesity is higher in males.