Research in Sport Medicine and Technology

Introduction: Different sports require athletes with special shape and size.
Findings of researches have reported the relationship between somatotype
components and athletic performance, similarity of somatotype of junior and
senior athletes in the same sport and, consistency of somatotype through
lifespan. In according to the fact that, somatotype is related to genetic factors
and not influenced by training and nutrition, this index can be helpful in
identification of talents. Lack of investigation examining somatotype profile of
Iranian population, the aim of present study was to describe somatotype profile
of Iranian 9-13 years old boys of country provinces in martial sports.
Methodology: present investigation is descriptive and field study. Population is
9-13 years old boys who participated in Basij Sport Organization leisure time
programs. Sample includes 1726 boys in that age rang. Anthropometric
characteristics were measured using ISAK instruction and somatotpye was
assessed using Heath-Carter method.
Findings: results showed that Ectomorphic component of Iranian boys was 3.1,
Mesomorphy was 4.1 and Endomorphic was 3.1. also revealed that the Iranian
9-13 years old boys have balanced mesomorph somatotype.
Discussion: based on previous researches, elite Karateka in worldwide top
teams like Germany have Ectomorph-Mesomorph type, also somatotype of elite
taekwondo ka is Ectomorph-Mesomorph too and in Judo somatotype of elite
athletes is Balanced Mesomorphy. Based on the finding of present study the
boys of Ilam, Fars, Qazvin, Qom, Lorestan, Khorasan Razavi and Yazd have
Ectomorph-Mesomorph somatotype and, boys in Mazandaran, Kerman,
Kemanshah, Kurdestan, Markazi, Azarbayjan Sharghi, Khouzestan and
Bousher provinces have balanced mesomorph somatotye.

Introduction and Purpose: Due to the importance of functional balance tests assessment with emphasis on
parameters influencing the balance including somatotype, this study undertaken to determine the reliability of
functional balance tests (static, semi-dynamic and dynamic) in endomorphe healthy women within 24-34 years
old. Methodology: 25 female endomorphe with the average and standard deviation age of 27.32±2.13 yrs,
height of 161.13±6.37 cm and weight of 58.28±8.46 kg, participated in this study. Functional balance tests
were assessed while Heath-Carter approach applied to determine the participant somatotype. All the functional
balance tests are used for each individual three times within 72 hours. Data distribution normalization are
evaluated by means of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, while ICC was used for assessing the reliability at a
significance level of P<0.05. Results:The reliability of all static, semi-dynamic and dynamic balance tests used
in this study was confirmed with an endomorphe type body. Assessing static balance, the Stork and Angel
tests; semi-dynamic balance, Star Excursion Balance Test test; and dynamic balance, the Timed to Get Up
and Go and Tandem Walking tests got very good reliability level (ICC>0.80

The aim of this study was to compare the profile of anthropometric, somatotype and body composition between novice and professional 6 to 8 years old gymnasts. A total of 40 gymnasts in tow group (20 novice gymnasts and 20 professional gymnasts) participated in this study. A total of 17 anthropometric, somatotype and body composition variables were recorded of each subject. The tools used in this study are: questionnaires (individual information and general health evaluation), chronometer, band meter, and movable weight scale, stadiometer, sliding calliper and somatotype software. In ferential and descriptive statistics and independent T test were used to analyze the obtained data. The level of significance was 0.05. There were significant differences in skinfold percentage (triceps, Supraspinatus and calf), total hand length, hip and calf, circumferences, BMI, endomorph and ectomorph between tow group) p<0.05). From an anthropometric stand point, 6 to 8 years old is a lowest and best age for select and talent identification. According to the results, between two groups, professional gymnasts exhibited lower BMI, circumferences (hip and calf), skinfolds, endomorphy and more total hand length, mesomorphy and ectomorphy than nivice gymnasts. On average, professional and novice gymnasts were in ectomorph-mesomorph and endomorph-mesomorph status respectively.