Morphometric correlates of the physical development structure of combat athletes in the process of ensuring special work capacity

Background and Study Aim Material and Methods Despite extensive training, combat athletes often face challenges in optimizing their physical development to enhance performance and work capacity. This study aims to examine the interrelations of key parameters within the physical development (PD) structure of highly skilled combat athletes in the process of ensuring special work capacity. Between 30 and 83 wrestlers of different weight categories and skill levels, all members of the national teams of Ukraine in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and judo, participated in various studies. The age of the subjects ranged from 18 to 31 years. The combat athletes aged 18-24 years old were students of Ukrainian universities. A total of 56 indices of PD, speed-strength fitness, and special work capacity of the combat athletes were registered. The special work capacity of wrestlers was estimated based on the intensity of performing 15 specialized throws of a partner of equal weight in 3 series. Each series of throws was performed 3 times, with a rest interval of 1 minute between the series. Results The studies revealed that in the morphometric component of combat athlete PD structure, the circumference dimensions of the body are more integrated compared to the longitudinal, transverse, anteroposterior dimensions, and other parameters. The most highly interconnected circumferences are those of the neck, thorax, relaxed and tensed shoulder, forearm, hip, and shin. These parameters show the highest correlation with both the athletes' skill level and the integral parameters of PD, such as body weight, surface area, weight category, and Quetelet index. An increase in wrestlers' skill level is associated with an increase in the neck, chest, shoulder, and hip circumferences. It also correlates with the enhancement of anaerobic work capacity and the formation of the morphofunctional profile of highly skilled combat athletes. Multiple regression models reflecting these dependencies were developed. Conclusions The thorax, thigh, shoulder, and neck circumferences are key parameters of the morphometric component of combat athlete PD structure. They are the most integrated into the general structure of physical fitness and determine the integral parameters of PD, the level of anaerobic work capacity, and the strength endurance of wrestlers with a high degree of accuracy. The specificity of improving PD structure and special fitness of combat athletes is manifested in the fact that, as the athlete's skill level increases, the volumes of the thorax, neck, shoulder, and thigh increase to the greatest extent. Their interrelations among themselves, with the integral parameters of PD, and with the level of anaerobic work capacity, speed, and speed-strength endurance tend to enhance. The developed models can be used for predicting the PD structure of combat athletes of different skill levels and weight categories. They can also be utilized for assessing special work capacity and designing appropriate normative evaluation scales.