Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine body composition of a national team of female handball players (n = 16, age 24.0 +- 3.5 years, height 176.0 +- 6.5 cm, weight 72.5+-8.3 kg). Research data were obtained by means of a bioimpedance method (BIA 2000 M, Germany).
We observed: absolute and relative amount of Fat Free Mass (FFM), percentage of Fat Mass (% FM), Body Cell Mass (BCM), Extra Cellular Mass (ECM) and their mutual ratio (ECM/BCM), Phase Angle (α), Total Body Water (TBW) distinguishing Extracellular Fluid (ECW) and Intracellular Fluid (ICW). The mean value of TBW is 54.98% of a female player's body weight.
TBW distribution was 67.88% in ICW and 42.12% in ECW. The mean value of FFM = 60.74 +- 1.48 kg.
BCM was 50.40 +- 0.78 % of FFM (CQ), which in absolute value means 30.59 +- 0.83 kg. The ratio of ECM/BCM = 0.79 +- 0.03, α = 6.96 +- 0.19o and FM = 16.06 +- 0.65 %.
Individual body composition parameters provide the values characteristic for elite female athletes. Interindividual comparison also revealed differences in terms of player's function.
The presented data can serve as a certain top standard for comparisons of body composition quality in female players of the lower level with the aim to optimize and compensate the found differences.