Body composition of Kwara state basketball players - implications for peak performance

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the body composition of Basketball players in Kwara State, Nigeria. Physical characteristics of age, height and weight, the percentage body fat, fat mass, fat free mass and muscle mass were measured using standardized methods. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants made up of twelve (12) junior and fifteen (15) senior male basketball players. Portable Bathroom-type Hanson, scale (model B1801) was used to measure weight in kilogrammes, Holtain Stadiometre for height in centimetres and Slim-guide Skinfold callipers (model MI 48170, U.S.A). One-way ANOVA was used to analyse the difference in physical characteristics of the participants; t-test was used to determine difference in the body composition of the senior and junior basketball players. Significant difference was found in the body composition. The senior team had significantly higher fat free muscle mass and less fat and percentage body fat (4.69) that was too low for continuous vigorous intensity workout. However, there were no significant differences in the fat mass and fat free mass; while significant difference was found in percent body fat, BMI and muscle mass of both the senior and junior teams. This implies that the senior team has better musculature than the junior team. It was concluded that there is need for nutritional intervention and carbohydrate loading prior to performance to meet up the energy demand for daily training programme and during performance in order to improve performance ability of the senior basketball players.