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Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health
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Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Kinesiology and Biomechanics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 3322

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Stefania Toselli

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Guest Editor
Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
Interests: body composition; biological maturation; sport; growth; ageing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Luciana Zaccagni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Interests: kinanthropometry; body composition; sports and performance; body image perception; obesity; physical activity and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Natascia Rinaldo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Interests: kinanthropometry; body composition; talent identification; body measures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Kinanthropometry is the study of body size, shape, proportionality, composition, biological maturation, and function to understand the processes of growth, aging, health, movement, and nutrition. In particular, kinanthropometry studies the relationship between human structure and movement. In Public Health, anthropometric measurements can assess the risk of malnutrition, obesity, muscle atrophy, increased fat mass, and maldistribution of adipose tissue. Underweight and overweight represent significant health risk situations, having a substantial association with non-communicable diseases. Overweight and obesity rates have increased in nearly all age categories in most countries around the world. The combination of reduced manual labor and daily physical activity, along with increased access to and consumption of energy-dense foods, contributes to this global problem. Anthropometric indicators are simple, portable, non-invasive, inexpensive, and easily applicable measurements that can be readily applied in populations to estimate weight and body composition disorders and to guide preventive measures and medical interventions in older adults.

In the sports field, kinanthropometry is essential in describing and quantifying athletes’ physical characteristics to obtain information on body composition, somatotype, and proportionality. It allows for the evaluation of morphological traits and their monitoring during the competitive season. It can also be used for talent detection, identification, and development in virtually all sports, the study of growth and maturation, the response to training, and the monitoring of athletes who must follow a specific diet

In this light, this Special Issue is intended to highlight the current and future techniques of kinanthropometry and their application in the fields of Sport Science and Health. Therefore, it provides an excellent opportunity to publish different types of research (including quantitative and qualitative research, original articles, short communications, scoping and systematic reviews, and meta-analysis) focused on this broad research topic.

Prof. Dr. Stefania Toselli
Dr. Luciana Zaccagni
Dr. Natascia Rinaldo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • kinanthropometry
  • weight status
  • growth
  • aging
  • body composition
  • athletes
  • sport sciences
  • public health
  • obesity

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2218 KiB  
Article
Anthropometric Characteristics and Body Composition Changes in a Five-Time Olympic Champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling: A Longitudinal Case Study Towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
by Wiliam Carvajal-Veitía, Carlos Abraham Herrera-Amante, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Vladimir Gainza-Pérez, Yanell Deturnell-Campos, Carlos Cristi-Montero, Guillermo Cortés-Roco and César Octavio Ramos-García
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020176 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 234
Abstract
Purpose: This case study examines the anthropometric characteristics and body composition changes of a 41-year-old Cuban Greco-Roman 130 kg wrestler, a five-time Olympic gold medalist (2008–2024). To optimize his preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, another athlete participated in the qualifying [...] Read more.
Purpose: This case study examines the anthropometric characteristics and body composition changes of a 41-year-old Cuban Greco-Roman 130 kg wrestler, a five-time Olympic gold medalist (2008–2024). To optimize his preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, another athlete participated in the qualifying process, allowing him to train without competition gear. Methods: The study monitored changes in body composition using anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) at three key time points in 2024: January, June, and July. The final assessment occurred 25 days before the Olympic event, coinciding with the final phase of his preparation. Results: The analysis revealed a significant reduction in total body mass, from 150 kg in January to 138.5 kg in July, with fat mass decreasing from 37.06 kg (24.11%) to 29.7 kg (21.5%). Muscle mass decreased slightly (77.41 kg to 72.3 kg), while bone mass remained stable. The somatotype classification was endomorphic–mesomorphic at all assessments, with slight shifts in its components (4.6–10.4–0.1 in January to 4.4–10.3–0.1 in July), reflecting an improved muscle–fat ratio. Notably, hydration levels and cellular integrity remained stable, as indicated by BIVA analysis. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the anthropometric characteristics and body composition of an elite Greco-Roman wrestler, as well as the changes observed during his preparation for his final Olympic participation. These data serve as a valuable reference for wrestlers and sports professionals, highlighting the physical profile of one of the most emblematic figures in Olympic history. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health)
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15 pages, 1214 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Maturation Prediction Methods (Moore, Mirwald, BAUSportTM): Croatian Female Volleyball Youth Team Example
by Drazen Cular, Tea Beslija, Marijana Cavala, Matej Babic and Ana Kezic
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020171 - 12 May 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: The study aims to compare three distinct protocols—Moore, Mirwald, and the new BAUSportTM SonicBone system—for predicting somatic maturation in youth athletes. Methods: The participants were female members of the Croatian national volleyball youth team (U-17) (n = 16). [...] Read more.
Objectives: The study aims to compare three distinct protocols—Moore, Mirwald, and the new BAUSportTM SonicBone system—for predicting somatic maturation in youth athletes. Methods: The participants were female members of the Croatian national volleyball youth team (U-17) (n = 16). The study involved comprehensive measurements, including height, weight, sitting height, leg length, wrist diameter, hand joint diameter, hand grip strength, and ultrasound measurements for skeletal age assessment. Results: Correlation analysis showed moderate to strong correlations between the Moore and Mirwald skeletal age estimates, but both showed weaker correlations with the BAUSportTM skeletal age. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed no significant difference between the Moore and Mirwald methods (p > 0.05); significant differences between both the Moore and Mirwald methods and the BAUSportTM method (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that height, weight, sitting height, leg length, wrist diameter, and hand joint diameter explained 69% of BAUSportTM, with wrist diameter being the only significant predictor. While the Moore and Mirwald methods remain useful tools for estimating the timing of an athlete’s growth spurt, BAUSportTM represents a potential advancement in skeletal age assessment. Further research is needed to validate BAUSportTM across diverse populations and optimize its calibration to accommodate anatomical variations. Conclusions: The findings suggest that with further refinement, BAUSportTM could become a new standard for monitoring skeletal development in youth athletes. Additionally, studies should explore comparative analyses with other emerging technologies, such as genetic markers, hormonal assessments, and MRI, for further understanding of biological maturation in talent identification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health)
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16 pages, 1012 KiB  
Article
Posture Status Differences Between Preschool Boys and Girls
by Anida Kapo-Gurda, Amin Efendić, Indira Mahmutović, Siniša Kovač, Husnija Kajmović, Safet Kapo and Jožef Šimenko
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020101 - 24 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The preschool period plays an essential role in shaping a child’s overall development, which influences physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth. At this stage, establishing proper postural habits is essential, as it can have lasting effects on health, well-being, helps to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The preschool period plays an essential role in shaping a child’s overall development, which influences physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth. At this stage, establishing proper postural habits is essential, as it can have lasting effects on health, well-being, helps to prevent future issues, and supports overall development. Therefore, the present work aims to determine the differences in postural status between boys and girls of preschool age. Methods: The sample of participants consisted of 92 children (n = 46 boys and n = 46 girls); the average age for girls was 5.41 ± 0.30 years and for boys it was 5.53 ± 0.31 years. Data were collected using licensed state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, Contemplas 3D Posture Compact, using 16 variables to assess postural status with a Mann–Whitney U test. Results: The results of this study indicate that boys have more pronounced deformities in the following variables: shoulder displacement (p = 0.047), pelvic obliquity (p = 0.000), sag. distance cervical spine–sacrum (p = 0.029), sag. distance thoracic spine–sacrum (SDTS) (p = 0.016), and sag. distance lumbar spine–sacrum (SDLS) (p = 0.005). Conclusions: This study confirmed gender differences in postural characteristics in preschool children. Boys showed a greater tendency towards postural deviations, indicating the necessity for specific interventions and programs to improve their posture. On the basis of the results of this research, it is recommended to carry out cross-cultural research that would enable the comparison of results among children from different environments and cultural contexts in order to determine possible differences and particularities in the development of postural characteristics. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples of participants, including children from rural and urban areas, in order to ensure the representativeness and generalizability of the results. In addition, conducting a longitudinal study that would monitor the postural characteristics of children through different developmental stages is suggested, aiming to identify critical periods for intervention and to determine, more precisely, development trends within the context of gender differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health)
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15 pages, 586 KiB  
Article
Body Asymmetry and Sports Specialization: An Exploratory Anthropometric Comparison of Adolescent Canoeists and Kayakers
by Carlos Abraham Herrera-Amante, William Carvajal-Veitía, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Fernando Alacid, Juan Gavala-González, José Francisco López-Gil, Jorge Olivares-Arancibia and César Octavio Ramos-García
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010070 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 692
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The evaluation of body asymmetry between the right and left sides of the body is crucial in the context of sports because of its potential impact on performance and injury prevention. This study analyzed the anthropometric differences between the right and left [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The evaluation of body asymmetry between the right and left sides of the body is crucial in the context of sports because of its potential impact on performance and injury prevention. This study analyzed the anthropometric differences between the right and left sides of the body in adolescent (13.0 [2.0] years) male canoeists and kayakers from Spain. This study aimed to explore the asymmetries associated with these disciplines. Methods: Anthropometric assessments were carried out on 27 male adolescents (13 canoeists and 14 kayakers). A total of 58 anthropometric variables were assessed, including 23 pairs of bilateral variables and 12 unilateral measurements. The evaluations included basic measures, skinfolds, girths, lengths, and breadths. Relative differences between sides were calculated via the bilateral asymmetry index (%BAI). Nonparametric tests, such as the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for within-group comparisons and the Mann–Whitney U test for between-group comparisons, were applied. Results: Comparisons between body sides within the groups revealed significant asymmetries in the subscapular skinfold (p = 0.010) in canoeists and in the mid-thigh girth (p = 0.041) in kayakers. Among the groups, differences were found in the subscapular skinfold (p = 0.010) and the bicep skinfold (p = 0.038) on the right side. Conclusions: Although significant differences were found in some variables, no distinctive profile of the differences between canoeists and kayakers was established in the categories analyzed. These results suggest that, in general, body asymmetries do not significantly distinguish between these disciplines within the sample studied. Further research is needed to better understand the implications of these differences for performance and injury prevention in specific adolescent sports contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health)
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12 pages, 750 KiB  
Article
Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Fat Mass Percentage with Proprioception in Children
by Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz, Yeny Concha-Cisternas, Guillermo Méndez-Rebolledo, Manuel Vásquez-Muñoz, Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Tomás Herrera-Valenzuela, Cristian Núñez-Espinosa and Jordan Hernández-Martínez
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010059 - 9 Feb 2025
Viewed by 965
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is linked to motor and sensorimotor impairments, including proprioceptive deficits. While research has predominantly focused on lower limb proprioception, less is known about the impact on upper limbs. This study investigated the relationship between body mass index, body fat percentage, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is linked to motor and sensorimotor impairments, including proprioceptive deficits. While research has predominantly focused on lower limb proprioception, less is known about the impact on upper limbs. This study investigated the relationship between body mass index, body fat percentage, and proprioception of children aged 11–12 years. Methods: A quantitative, correlational, observational design was employed. BMI was calculated from weight and height measurements, body fat percentage was assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis, and proprioception was measured using an active repositioning test with inertial sensors in 44 children. Results: Significant correlations were found between BMI and positional errors in the shoulder (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), elbow (r = 0.36, p = 0.007), and knee (r = 0.42, p = 0.002). Regarding body fat percentage, significant correlations were observed with positional errors in the shoulder (r = 0.28, p = 0.031), elbow (r = 0.46, p < 0.001), and knee (r = 0.29, p = 0.030). Regression analysis showed that BMI and body fat percentage significantly predicted positional errors in the shoulder, elbow, and knee. In the shoulder joint, girls demonstrated lower positional errors compared to boys, influenced by both BMI (β = −1.36, p = 0.015) and body fat percentage (β = −3.00, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Higher BMI and body fat percentage are associated with shoulder, elbow, and knee joint proprioceptive deficits. Interventions targeting weight reduction and proprioceptive training may mitigate these deficits and promote sensorimotor function in children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Kinanthropometry: Techniques and Applications in Sports and Health)
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