2019, Volume 15
Perkal’s method of natural indicators in the assessment of internal proportions of body composition in persons practising combat sports
Władysław Jagiełło1
1Department of Sport, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sports, Gdansk, Poland
Author for correspondence: Władysław Jagiełło; Department of Sport, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sports, Gdansk, Poland; email: wjagiello1@wp.pl
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Abstract
Background and Study Aim: Perkal’s method of natural indicators is a very interesting and, unfortunately, little-known method of assessing body composition. For the first time, it was used to assess body composition by Milicerowa in 1956. However, this is not a new system of typological classification, but a statistical method that allows characterizing internal proportions of body composition of each individual or a group of individuals. The main aim of the research is aspects of body composition in combat sports that use Perkal’s method of natural indicators.
Material and Methods: The basic method of research was an analysis of available literature (n = 8 articles) which covered a period of ten years (2007-2017). An assessment of the properties of athletes’ body composition with this method takes into account calculating the following elements: composition factors; Index of total body size of the group; assessment of internal proportions of body composition; evenness of the composition; the code of internal proportions of the; assessment of internal proportions of the body composition within each of the factors.
Results: The most important information regarding the properties of athletes’ body composition is provided by internal proportions of somatic features within the factors (natural indicators of somatic features of body composition factors). The stoutness has the most diversified factor of contribution of somatic features in both men and women practicing combat sports. The contribution of somatic features to the length factor is quite proportional in both women and men.
Conclusions: Perkal’s method of natural indicators is alternative in assessing the properties of athletes’ somatic composition. Owing to the use of standardized features, it gives greater possibilities of analysis than the classic typological systems. It also allows for a more free selection of those features that are considered important in a given sport discipline or event/weight category. Due to the possibility of assessing internal proportions, it is particularly important in sports training.
Key words: typological systems, standardized results, Sheldon’s somatotypology