Digit ratio (2D:4D): relationship with freestyle swimming performance of adolescent well-trained swimmers

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between the digit ratios and freestyle swimming performance of adolescent well-trained swimmers. Material and Methods: Twenty-two well-trained male swimmers who had at least 3 years of swim training experience were recruited as participants. The participants’ mean age was 14.1±1.5 years, body height was 164.5±11.3 cm, and body mass was 54.4±11.2 kg. Participants’ body height, mass, index finger (2D) and ring finger (4D) lengths were measured and digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index of participants was calculated. To determine the swimming performance of participants, the short (50m and 100m) and middle (200m and 400m) distance freestyle time-trial swimming tests were performed on participants. The association between the 2D:4D ratio and the swimming performance were determined by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results. Our findings indicated that there were strong negative correlations (r > .50) between the mean of BMI and swimming times of adolescent swimmers. ( p > .05 ). However, result of this study revealed no relationship between the digit ratio (2D:4D) and swimming performance in adolescent swimmers. ( p > .05 ). Conclusion. As a result, it may be stated that the 2D:4D ratio of swimmers is not a major parameter in predicting swimming performance for adolescent swimmers.

Relationship between the 2D:4D and prenatal testosterone, adult level testosterone, and testosterone change: Meta‐analysis of 54 studies

“…Despite the still present interest in the digit ratios, we highlight that the biological antecedents of the digit ratios may not be as firm as previously hypothesized (Manning et al, 1998). It might be one of the reasons why so many studies on the digit ratios are unsuccessfully replicated (Borkowska & Pawlowski, 2013; Knowles, 2018; Özen et al, 2019).…”