Phase angle differences between injured and uninjured athletes: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method used to assess body composition and cellular integrity.
• Phase angle (PhA) derived from BIA is a sensitive indicator of cellular membrane function and nutritional status.
• Laterality and injury status can potentially influence PhA measurements in athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare phase angle (PhA) values between injured and uninjured hemibodies in a cohort of athletes.
• To determine if differences in PhA exist between the right and left sides of the body in athletes.
• To assess the impact of unilateral injuries on PhA measurements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 50 kHz octopolar bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) to measure PhA.
• Conducted orthopedic physical examinations (OPE) to identify and categorize athletic injuries.
• Grouped injuries by body region (right or left hemibody) and compared PhA between injured and uninjured contralateral sides.

Main Results:

• Uninjured hemibodies showed a significantly higher PhA on the right side compared to the left (14.1 ± 2.0 vs. 13.8 ± 2.1, p < 0.001).
• The uninjured right hemibody had a higher PhA than the injured left hemibody (14.6 ± 1.9 vs. 14.3 ± 1.7, p = 0.032).
• Athletes with right-sided injuries exhibited similar PhA values between their injured right and uninjured left hemibodies (14.1 ± 1.6 vs. 14.0 ± 1.5, p = 0.186).

Conclusions:

• Phase angle (PhA) demonstrates significant differences between hemibodies, with the right side typically exhibiting higher values, potentially due to athlete laterality.
• Unilateral injuries, particularly on the right side, can attenuate or eliminate the expected PhA differences between hemibodies.
• These findings suggest that PhA is sensitive to injury status and may be a valuable biomarker in assessing athletic health and recovery.