Body Composition and Gait Parameters in Young Male Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study Compared with Sedentary Controls
Discuss this preprint
Start a discussion What are Sciety discussions?Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate and compare differences in segmental body composition and gait characteristics (including plantar pressure distribution and spatio-temporal parameters) between athletes engaged in sports with a predominance of vertical jump (football, basketball, volleyball, and boxing) and sedentary young men using the gait analysis platform and body composition analyzer. Methods This cross-sectional observational study included 63 healthy young men aged 16–25 years (33 athletes and 30 individuals with sedentary lifestyles). Segmental body composition was assessed using a Tanita Jawon AVIS 333 Plus analyzer, and gait parameters, including spatiotemporal and plantar pressure data, were recorded using the Win-Track platform. T-tests and ANOVA were used to determine intergroup differences, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results Athletes exhibited significantly lower body fat percentage (PBF) and higher skeletal muscle mass (SLM) in both lower extremities and trunk compared to sedentary individuals (PBF: 15.21 ± 5.47, p = 0.001; Trunk SLM: 29.25 ± 3.72, p = 0.014; Rt.Leg SLM: 11.42 ± 1.57, p = 0.002; Lt.Leg SLM: 11.46 ± 1.54, p = 0.007, respectively). Sedentary participants showed higher mean swing velocity and maximum plantar pressure (Right and Left Max. Plantar Pressure: 478.53 ± 97.47, p = < 0.001 and 431.30 ± 52.88, p = 0.002, respectively). However, no statistically significant difference was found between sports in spatio-temporal parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusions Regular participation in sports involving frequent dynamic movements can have positive effects on body composition and gait biomechanics. Compared to sedentary individuals, athletes exhibit better muscle distribution, postural control, and gait efficiency; this underscores the importance of staying physically active to support healthy muscle function and movement control. Trial registration not applicable.
