Comparative analysis of Anthropometric and Physiological Characteristics of Javelin and Shot-put Athletes in Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the difference between anthropometric and
physiological characteristics of Kwara State Javelin and Shot-put Athletes. Total enumeration
procedure was adopted for this study. The population for this study comprised all Javelin and
Shot-put throwers who was training in Kwara State. Purposive sampling technique was used to
select ten (10) male Javelin and ten (10) male Shot put throwers in Kwara State. Standardized
instrument were used to collect the following data for analysis. Physical characteristics: age,
height and weight. The anthropometric variables of body girths of thigh, hip, relaxed, contracted,
waist circumference and physiological parameters of resting heart rate,blood pressure, speed,
and muscular endurance of push up, sit up were measured using measuring tape, stop watch and
stethoscope. The descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation (SD) were used to describe
the data collected and t-test for the differences between the two groups(Javelin throwers and
Shot-put throwers) at 0.05 level of significant. There was no significant difference in age, height
and weight with the following results 31.5±3.57, 31.2±2.62 and t value of 0.72 for age. Height
was 183.4±5.25, 190.8±5.16 and t value of 0.01. Weight was 88.0±2.49, 90.9±3.35 and t value of
0.41 respectively. It was found that there was no significant difference in the body
circumference. This showed that Javelin and Shotputters had mean, standard deviation and t-
value of 31.5±3.57, 31.2±2.62 and 1.22 for waist circumference. Hip girth was 98.6±2.76,
101.5±2.80 and 0.07. Thigh girth has 59.8±4.21, 60.26±0.84 and 4.31. Contracted arm girth was
43.2±2.97, 46.1±1.29 and 3.43. Flexed arm girth was 33.4±3.40, 39.7±1.95 and 4.36
respectively. This result shows that Shotputters has a higher anthropometric measure compared
to their Javelin counterpart in this study. This result shows that Kwara state Javelin throwers are
better in speed and muscular endurance in pushup and Sit-up while other physiological
parameters such as Systolic, Diastolic and heart rate fall under normal for both categories. It was
that Shot-putters are more different to Javelin in height, weight and body girths respectively.
Therefore, it was recommended that trainers and coaches should consider the Anthropometric,
Physiological and body composition necessary for each game in terms of selection of athlete.