Discriminating factors of the kinanthropometric profile of young athletes from different sports

Background: Body morphology, due to its simple applicability, is used to help coaches make decisions during the process of identifying and selecting talent in sports. Objective: to analyze the discriminative kinanthropometric patterns of young Brazilian athletes in different sports. Methods: We evaluated 83 young males (age: 13.1 ± 2.4), 60 of whom were athletes (16-soccer, 11-tennis, 20-swimming, and 13-rowing) and 23 non-athletes (Control group). We evaluated the kinanthropometric profile by dual-energy x-ray emission absorptiometry and by anthropometry. Subsequently, through algorithms programmed in “R” language, a discriminant model was created based on the circumference variables: biceps, hips, waist, and leg; the bone diameters of the humerus and femur, and the components of body composition: total lean mass, total fat mass, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, triceps skinfold, and body adiposity index. Results: Discriminant model was able to discriminate soccer athletes in 93.8% (F:32.098; p=0.000), tennis athletes in 81.8% (F:24.060; p=0.0004), rowing athletes in 80% (F:28.031; p=0.0001), swimming at 100% (F:41.899; p<0.000) and the control group at 91.3% (F:30.132; p<0.0001). In addition, the high bone mineral density was important for the discrimination of soccer athletes (p<0.001), the low body adiposity index for the discrimination of swimming athletes (p<0.001), and the high levels of lean mass for the discrimination of rowers (p<0.001). Conclusion: We conclude that morphological patterns can be used safely, helping to discriminate young athletes from different sports; thus, one more tool to be used in the processes of detection and guidance of young people with talent in the sport.