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Published on: September 22, 2023
Muscle fibre type composition and body composition in hammer throwers
Gerasimos Terzis1, Konstantinos Spengos, Stavros Kavouras
1Athletics Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens , Greece.
Well-trained hammer throwers exhibit greater lean body mass and a higher proportion of type II muscle fibers, particularly type IIA, which correlate with improved throwing performance. These findings highlight the importance of muscle mass and fiber type in elite hammer throwing.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Human Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Elite athletes often display distinct physiological characteristics tailored to their sport.
- Understanding the specific adaptations in muscle and body composition of hammer throwers is crucial for performance optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the muscle fiber type composition and body composition of elite hammer throwers.
- To investigate the relationship between these physiological factors and hammer throwing performance.
Main Methods:
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for body composition analysis.
- Muscle biopsy analysis of vastus lateralis for fiber type composition and cross-sectional area.
- Performance testing including one repetition maximums and throwing events.
Main Results:
- Hammer throwers demonstrated significantly higher lean body mass compared to untrained controls.
- A greater percentage of type II muscle fibers, specifically larger type IIA fibers, were observed in hammer throwers.
- Lean body mass showed a significant positive correlation with hammer throwing performance.
Conclusions:
- Elite hammer throwers possess enhanced lean body mass and a muscle fiber profile favoring type II fibers.
- These physiological adaptations, particularly increased muscle mass, are key contributors to superior hammer throwing ability.
- The prevalence of type IIX fibers warrants further research into their role.
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