Bioimpedance patterns and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) of road cyclists |
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| Authors: | Andrea Giorgi Maurizio Vicini Luca Pollastri Erica Lombardi Emilio Magni Andrea Andreazzoli |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy;2. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Professional Cycling Team, Vignola, Italy;3. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Professional Cycling Team, Vignola, Italy;4. Sports Medicine Laboratory, PENTAVIS, Lecco, Italy;5. RusVelo – Gazprom Professional Cycling Team, Abbadia San Salvatore, Italy;6. Bahrain-Merida Pro Cycling Team, Prato, Italy;7. Pro Team Astana, Kazakhstan, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Bioelectrical impedance vector-analysis (BIVA) describes cell-mass, cell function and hydration status of an individual or a group. The goal of the present investigation was to provide bioelectrical impedance data for 525 male road cyclists (155 professionals, 79 elite, 59 elite-youth, and 232 amateurs) at the time of their optimal performance level. Data were plotted on the resistance-reactance (R-Xc) graph to characterize cyclists group vectors using BIVA. Compared to the general male population, the mean vector position of the road cyclists indicates a higher body cell mass (BCM) and phase angle (p<0.001). The vector position of the high-performance, compared to the amateur cyclists showed similar patterns with higher BCM and phase angles and higher reactance values for the high-performance athletes (p<0.001). The bio-impedance data were used to calculate the 50%, 75%, and 95% tolerance ellipses of each group of cyclists. The characteristic vector positions of the road cyclists indicate normal hydration and greater muscle mass and function of the high-performance cyclists compared to amateur cyclists and the normal population. The cyclists specific tolerance ellipses, particularly the high-performance cyclists might be used for classifying a cyclist according to the individual vector position and to define target vector regions for lower level cyclists. |
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| Keywords: | Road cyclists anthropometry body composition phase angle reference values performance level |
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