Secular anthropometric study of Spanish top-level competitive athletes since 1951. Comparison with other groups from the same period and from the 21st century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v65.111273Keywords:
anthropometry, secular trend, football, basketball, track and field, heightAbstract
Introduction: Body dimensions, although genetically determined, are influenced by the socio-environmental context.
Objective: To analyse secular trends in height, weight and chest circumference in Spanish athletes between 1951 and 2012
Methodology: This study compares the anthropometric profile of Spanish competitive sportsmen in 1951 (football, athletics and basketball) with those practising the same sports six decades later. It also compares the mid-20th century athletes with other contemporary groups (university students, military personnel from the Central School of Physical Education in Toledo and the general population).A total of 3641 anthropometric records of athletes, 1109 of officers and soldiers from Toledo and 1173 of students were used.
Results: There was a positive secular trend in the anthropometric measurements of athletes over a period of about sixty years, which can be attributed to the improvement in the quality of life in Spain.
Conclusions: In general, the anthropometric measurements of the athletes in the historical series are closer to those of university students and students of the Toledo School than to those of the general Spanish population, represented by the recruits of the same period.
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