Body Size Measurements and Physical Performance of Youth Female Judo Athletes with Differing Menarcheal Status

Abstract

Purpose: To compare body size measurements and physical performance among female youth judo athletes with differing menarcheal status and to identify indicators of physical performance in post-menarcheal girls. Methods: Nineteen young female judo athletes (age 13.9 ± 2.3 years) were divided into a pre-menarche (n = 7) and a post-menarche (n = 12) group. The athletes were evaluated through neuromuscular tests, including standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), and handgrip strength (HGS), and judo-specific assessments, including the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) and the Judogi Grip Strength Test (JGSTISO). Furthermore, years of experience in judo and the age at menarche were determined. Results: The main results showed higher performance for the post-menarche group for most variables (p < 0.05) compared to the pre-menarche group. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age at menarche, chronological age, and body mass explained close to 70% of JGSTISO, while training experience, chronological age, and age at menarche explained close to 59% of SLJ. Additionally, chronological age and age at menarche explained 40% of MBT, and chronological age and height explained 52% of HGS. Conclusions: Age at menarche and somatic growth variables explained moderate proportions of the variance of physical performance, thereby providing evidence that these parameters are the primary indicators of physical performance in young female judo athletes.

Menstrual cycle characteristics, perceived impact on performance, and barriers to communication: Perspectives of high‐performance adolescent athletes in Singapore

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World-ranking performance in judo athletes with visual impairment: An approach considering sport classes and weight categories

“…For example, Sterkowicz-Przybycień and colleagues (2017) verified from 1411 matches that heavyweight female athletes tended to take a longer time in groundwork fights and pause times, while extra-lightweight female athletes have higher groundwork time compared to the male athletes. Lightweight and heavyweight young judo athletes also display different characteristics regarding physical performance (Torres-Luque et al, 2015) and anthropometric measures, especially body fat percentage (Athayde et al, 2017; Torres-Luque et al, 2015). Despite this, the scores seem not to be influenced by the weight categories, but these aspects need further long-term investigations.…”

The relationship between judo specific test performances and physical fitness in prepubescent male judo athletes

“…In young judo athletes, maturation status is associated with aerobic capacity and strength (Giudicelli, Luz, Sogut, et al, 2021); however these relationships may be affected by anthropometric variables (Giudicelli et al, 2020). It was reported that the somatic maturity, menarcheal status and anthropometric variables were predictors of judo-specific test performance (Athayde et al, 2021;Detanico et al, 2020). Nonetheless, the maturity status did not discriminate competitive levels in young judo athletes (Detanico et al, 2022).…”