Body composition assessment in male basketball players in brazilian national basketball league 2003

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the body composition profile of athletes who participated in the 2003 Men’s National Basketball League. Eighty-five athletes from eight teams were measured. The data were collected between 04/24 and 05/10/2003, for the following variables: body mass, stature, body mass index, lean body mass, fat mass, skinfolds (subscapular, triceps, biceps, chest, midaxillary, suprailiac, abdominal, medial thigh and medial calf). The profile was determined by the sum of 9 skinfolds, sum of the trunk skinfolds, sum of extremity skinfolds, percent of body fat (Jackson & Pollock) and body mass index. The data showed that there was a decrease in stature from pivots to line-pivots, lines, linebackers and backfields. The pivots and line-pivots were heavier than the lines and the latter heavier than the linebackers and backfields. The pivots also had higher BMI values than lines and linebackers and no differences were found among the other groups. The pivots showed higher percent of body fat, lean body mass, fat mass, sum of 9 skinfolds, sum of the trunk skinfolds and sum of extremity skinfolds than the other groups. Once again no differences were found among the other groups. The results pointed out that stature was determinant in player’s performance when analyzing by position and also that the pivots showed higher amount of body fat and total body mass than players in other positions.