TRACK AND FIELD JUMP PERFORMANCE AND BIO IMPEDANCE VECTOR ANALYSIS ACROSS DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES: SEX AND ELECTRODE PLACEMENT DIFFERENCES

Purpose: Assessing athletic performance without invasive methods has driven the research of methodology for measuring physiological parameters. This study delves into the application of Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) among track and field athletes, focusing on sex differences, electrode placement, and the correlation between BIVA parameters and physical performance. Methods: Sixty-one Italian athletes (31 females, 30 males) across four specialties (sprints, shot put, middle-distance running, and jumping) participated in this cross- sectional study. Anthropometric, bioelectrical (right, left, upper, and lower sides), and athletic performance measurements (triple, squat, countermovement, and stiffness jump) were conducted. RXc graph, two-sample Hotelling’s T2 test for BIVA analysis, and one-way ANOVA for specialties comparisons were used. Pearson and Spearman’s tests evaluated the correlations between BIVA and physical performance. Results: Differences in all parameters between the sexes were found, where male athletes are shown better performance, higher PhA and LMI, and higher correlation coefficients than females. Asymmetries were observed in females. Correlations between BIVA parameters and physical performance tests varied by sex and electrode placement, highlighting the need for tailored assessment strategies in athletic populations. Conclusions: The study underlines the role of BIVA in rapid and non-invasive assessments of body composition, fluid distribution, and body cell mass in athletes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of considering athlete sex and electrode placement for optimizing training and nutritional strategies.