Relation between rapid weight loss and competitive efficiency of wrestlers

Fenomen rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase prisutan je gotovo u svim borilačkim sportovima pa tako i u hrvanju. Hrvači znaju smanjivati veliki postotak tjelesne mase kako bi nastupom u nižoj težinskoj kategoriji ostvarili određenu prednost nad protivnicima. Smanjenjem tjelesne mase hrvači podižu svoju kondicijsku i mentalnu pripremu, ali i poboljšavaju svoje antropometrijske karakteristike. Prelaskom u nižu kategoriju hrvačima koji rapidno smanjuju tjelesnu masu ostaje ista longitudinalna dimenzionalnost skeleta (npr. raspon ruku, dužina ruku, tjelesna visina itd.), približno ista voluminoznost pa tim postupkom ulaze među hrvače najboljih antropometrijskih karakteristika, što predstavlja prednost u hrvačkoj borbi (Bachman i sur., 2011). Rapidno smanjenje tjelesne mase karakterizira smanjenje tjelesne mase u iznosu od 5-10% u manje od tjedan dana prije natjecanja (Franchini i sur., 2012). Efekti rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase znaju i negativno utjecati na zdravlje, sposobnosti, psihološko stanje i plasman hrvača pa je ovaj fenomen tim više potrebno detaljnije istražiti. Primarni cilj ovog rada bio je utvrditi povezanost indikatora rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase i izabranih psiholoških parametara na uspjeh hrvatskih hrvača grčko-rimskim načinom. Sekundarni cilj ovog rada bio je utvrditi razlike u izabranim psihološkim parametrima tijekom rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase između različitih dobnih skupina (kadeti, juniori i seniori). Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 200 hrvača grčko-rimskog načina (74 kadeta: 15,65±0,95 godina, 64 juniora: 18,27±1,07 godina, 62 seniora: 22,19±3,93 godina) koji su nastupili na prvenstvu Hrvatske 2014. godine i koji čine okvirno 80% populacije hrvača tih uzrasta u Hrvatskoj. Uzorak varijabli sačinjavale su varijable za procjenu stanja hidriranosti (specifična težina urina i boja urina), raspoloženja (ljutnja, napetost, depresija, energija, umor, zbunjenost, sreća i smirenost), anksioznosti (somatska i kognitivna anksioznost te samopouzdanje), ciljne orijentacije (orijentaciju na sebe i orijentaciju na zadatak) te intrinzične motivacije (uživanje, kompetencije, napor i napetost). U svrhu utvrđivanja povezanosti indikatora rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase i izabranih psiholoških parametara s uspjehom hrvača korištena je višestruka regresijska analiza, a za utvrđivanje razlika između različitih dobnih skupina korištena je diskriminacijska analiza. Analizom rezultata utvrđeno je da 68,50% hrvača (70,27% kadeta, 62,50% juniora i 72,58% seniora) pristupa natjecanju tako da smanjuju tjelesnu masu prije natjecanja. Od toga čak 25% hrvača rapidno smanjuju tjelesnu masu. Navike smanjenja tjelesne mase govore o tome da hrvači smanjuju tjelesnu masu (65,18% hrvača) posljednji tjedan ili manje od tjedan dana prije natjecanja, a smanjenje tjelesne mase kontroliraju samostalno (50,25%) ili uz pomoć trenera (40,80%). Visok stupanj dehidracije (1,027 g/mL) govori o tome da se hrvači nalaze u dehidriranom stanju prije službenog vaganja. Višestrukom regresijskom analizom utvrđena je statistički značajna povezanost (r=0,446) indikatora rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase i izabranih psiholoških parametara s uspjehom hrvača na razini značajnosti p=0,002. Statistički značajna povezanost utvrđena je u 4 varijable (umor, samopouzdanje, orijentacija na zadatak i percipirana kompetentnost). Povezanost umora i uspjeha hrvača ogleda se u nižoj razini umora uspješnijih hrvača u odnosu na manje uspješne hrvače. Samopouzdanje, ciljna orijentacija i percipirana kompetentnost povezane su s uspjehom hrvača tako da uspješniji hrvači imaju veću razinu navedenih sposobnosti u odnosu na manje uspješne hrvače. Diskriminacijskom analizom izabranih psiholoških parametara tijekom rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase utvrđene su statistički značajne razlike (p=0,012) između različitih dobnih skupina hrvača (kadeti, juniori i seniori). Utvrđena je jedna diskriminacijska funkcija (p=0,006) koja statistički značajno razlikuje grupe hrvača (kadeti, juniori i seniori) tijekom rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase. Tu diskriminacijsku funkciju definiraju pozitivna raspoloženja i intrinzična motivacija. Seniori tijekom rapidnog smanjenja tjelesne mase više uživaju, imaju veći interes i spomopuzdanje te bolju orijentaciju na zadatak u odnosu na juniore. Juniori imaju bolje percipiranu kompetentnost, manju razinu ljutnje i zbunjenosti i veću orijentiranost na rezultat u odnosu na kadete, koji imaju nisku razinu sreće i samopouzdanja te višu razinu napetosti i depresije.The phenomenon of a rapid body mass loss is present in almost all combat sports. It also exists in wrestling. Wrestlers are known to reduce a high percentage of their body mass in order to achieve a certain advantage over their opponent in a lower weight category. By reducing their body mass, wrestlers improve their condition and mental preparation, as well as anthropometric characteristics. By moving to a lower category, wrestlers who rapidly decrease their body mass have the same longitudinal skeletal dimensionalities (e.g. arm range, arm length, body height, etc.) and approximately the same volume. However, by doing that they fall in the category of wrestlers of the best anthropometric characteristics, which represents a certain advantage in a fight (Bachman et al., 2011). Rapidly body mass decrease is characterized by body mass reduction in a range of 5-10% in less than a week before a competition (Franchini et al., 2012). Effects od rapid body mass loss can negatively influence the health, abilities, psychological state and the ranking of the wrestler. Therefore, it needs to be further researched in more detail. The primary goal of this paper was to determine the relation between the rapid body mass reduction indicators and the chosen psychological parameters on the success of Croatian wrestlers in Greco-Roman style. The secondary goal of this paper was to determine the differences in the chosen psychological parameters during the rapid body mass loss among various age groups (cadets, juniors and seniors). The research was conducted on the sample of 200 wrestlers of Greco-Roman style (74 cadets; 15,65±0,95 age, 64 juniors: 18,27±1,07 age, 62 seniors: 22,19±3,93 age) which fought at the Croatian championship in 2014, which makes for around 80% of the total number of wrestlers in those age groups in Croatia. The variable sample contained the variables for assessing the hydration state (specific urine weight and color), mood (anger, tension, depression, energy, fatigue, confusion, happiness and calmness), anxiousness (somatic and cognitive anxiousness and self-confidence), goal orientation (orientation to oneself and to the task), and intrinsic motivation (enjoyment, competence, exertion and tension). In order to determine the connection between the indicators of rapid body mass loss and the chosen psychological parameters to the wrestlers’ success multiple regression analysis was used. Discrimination analysis was used for determining differences among various age groups. The results analysis determined that 68,50% of wrestlers (70,27% cadets, 62,50% juniors and 72,58% seniors) approach the competition in such a way to reduce the body mass before a competition. Out of that number, as many as 25% of the wrestlers rapidly reduce their body mass. The habits of body mass reduction tell us that wrestlers reduce their body mass (65,18% of the wrestlers) in the last week or less than a week before a competition, and they control it independently (50,25%) or with the help of their coach (40,80%). High level of dehydration (1,027 g/mL) tells us that the wrestlers are in a state of dehydration before an official weighing. Multiple regression analysis determined a statistically significant connection (r=0,446) between the rapid body mass loss and the chosen psychological parameters to the wrestlers’ success on the level of significance p=0,002. Statistically significant connection was determined in 4 variables (fatigue, self-confidence, orientation on the task and perceived competence). Relation between fatigue and the wrestlers’ success is shown in a lower level of fatigue in more successful wrestles in relation to less successful wrestlers. Self-confidence, goal orientation and perceived competence are connected to the wrestlers’ success so that more successful wrestlers have a higher level of the above mentioned abilities in relation to less successful wrestlers. Discrimination analysis of the chosen psychological parameters during a rapid body mass loss determined a statistically significant difference (p=0,012) among various age groups (cadets, juniors and seniors). One discrimination function (p=0,006) was determined and it statistically significantly differs wrestlers’ age groups (cadets, juniors and seniors) during rapid body mass loss. Discrimination function is defined by positive mood and intrinsic motivation. Comparing with juniors, seniors are more enjoying, have greater interest, confidence and better task orientation during the rapid body mass reduction. Juniors have better perceived competence, lower level of anger and confusion, greater ego orientation than cadets who have low levels of happiness self confidence and higher level tension and depression