Postural Characteristics and Morphological Profile of Swimmers at the Initial Training Stage

Abstract

The modern system of long- term athlete development in swimming involves an early onset of specialized training, which necessitates increased attention to the morphofunctional status and musculoskeletal system of young swimmers. It is at the initial training stage that intensive formation of the somatic profile occurs, motor skills are developed, and the foundations for further sports specialization are established. The purpose of the study was to analyze postural status and the morphological profile of swimmers at the initial training stage. Research methods: analysis of medical records, orthopedic examination, anthropometric measurements, and methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The total sample consisted of 96 children evenly distributed across three age groups of boys and girls aged 7–9 years. Each sex- and age-related subgroup included 16 participants. The sample structure was dominated by children with kyphotic (slouched) posture (56,3 %), whereas normal (22,9 %) and scoliotic postures (20,8 %) were less represented. The findings indicate that the body height of most examined boys and girls corresponded to the upper limits of the average range or exceeded age- and sex-related norms. BMI-for-age assessment showed no pronounced body mass deficiency or obesity among the examined children. A relatively problematic group was represented by 7-year-old boys, among whom the majority (62,5 %) were overweight. Indicators of body proportionality, including the Quetelet index (g/cm) and Rohrer index (a.u.), demonstrated that most children across all sex- and age groups had a normosthenic or slightly reduced mass-to- height density, while increased body mass was typical only for a proportion of 7-year-old boys. Isolated cases indicated an asthenic body type. Therefore, the studied cohort of athletes was characterized by a relatively favorable somatic profile. Conclusions. Athletes with different postural types differed not only in standardized age- and sex-related body height indicators (p<0,05) but also in certain weight-height characteristics. Swimmers with normal posture demonstrated relatively greater body height, the slouched posture group occupied an intermediate position, whereas children with scoliotic posture had lower body height compared to other groups. In addition, swimmers with normal posture had slightly higher body mass and relative body mass indicators (BMI Z-score, Quetelet index), while children with scoliotic posture showed lower values (p<0,05). Overall, the morphological profile of young swimmers can be characterized as favorable for swimming practice, including relatively tall stature, absence of body mass deficiency, and generally harmonious body constitution.