Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Seasonal changes of body mass, body composition, and muscular performance in collegiate wrestlers
Thomas W Buford1, Douglas B Smith, Matthew S Obrien
1Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
Purpose:
The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the physiological response of collegiate wrestlers to their competitive season.
Methods:
Eleven Division I collegiate wrestlers (mean +/- SD; 19.45 +/- 1.13 y) volunteered and completed 4 testing sessions throughout the course of the collegiate wrestling season. Testing sessions were conducted pre-, mid-, and postseason, as well as before the national tournament. Testing consisted of weigh-in, skinfold body composition testing, and a 50-rep concentric, isokinetic leg extension muscle endurance test (180 degrees /s). Muscular performance variables measured included peak torque, peak torque at fatigue, percent decline, and peak torque/body mass ratio.
Results:
A significant increase (P < .05) of 2.9% was observed for body mass between midseason and postseason (2.38 kg). From pre- to postseason, a mean increase of 3.8% (3.1 kg) was observed for body mass. An increase (P < .05) in BF% of 2.9% was observed between prenationals and postseason. No significant differences (P > .05) were observed between consecutive time points for quadriceps peak torque; however, there was a significant increase (P < .05) between preseason and prenationals (23.39 N.m). Peak torque at fatigue was greater (P < .05) at midseason than preseason, representing an increase of 9.82 N.m. Between midseason and prenationals testing, we observed an 11% increase (P < .05) in %DCLN. Finally, we noted an increase (P < .05) from 0.6 to 0.69 in peak torque/body mass ratio between preseason and prenationals.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that while force values seem to suffer at midseason, the wrestlers compensated and were strongest just before their national competition.
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