The Anthropometric Correlates for the Physiological Demand of Strength and Flexibility: A study in Young Indian Field Hockey Players.

INTRODUCTION: Optimal strength and flexibility are essential for performance enhancement and injury prevention in hockey, and anthropometry is known to influence these parameters.

AIM: To find anthropometric correlates for strength and flexibility score in young Indian field hockey players.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen female and 19 male subjects volunteered for the study. Selected anthropometric variables: lengths, breadths, girths and body composition; strength and sit and reach score were measured for each subject.

RESULTS: Males were taller, leaner and stronger with longer upper limbs and broader chests. With few exceptions, taller, heavier and leaner players with longer trunks and limbs, broader chest and hip, and bulkier arms and lower limbs had stronger grip, back, upper and lower limbs. Heavier and taller players with longer trunk and more percentage of body fat were more flexible. Also, the stronger players had more percentage body fat and body mass index, which might be due to the strong positive correlation of percentage body fat and body mass index with fat free mass.

CONCLUSION: Anthropometric variables, especially heights, breadths and body composition, show significant correlation with strength and flexibility, and hence may serve as monitoring tool and for talent identification.