Body Composition Symmetry in Long-Term Active Middle-Aged and Older Individuals

• Main Authors: Silvia Stagi, Alessia Moroni, Margherita Micheletti Cremasco, Elisabetta Marini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: body symmetry; segmental body composition; bioelectrical impedance vector analysis; BIVA
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5956
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

This study aimed to analyze body composition and strength symmetry in a sample of 165 middle-aged and elderly Italian volunteers, which included 97 active (67 men and 30 women; 61.17 ± 7.56 years) individuals regularly engaged in Tai Chi Chuan, tennis, or running, and a control group of 59 age-matched sedentary (27 men and 32 women) individuals. Anthropometric and bioelectrical measurements and hand grip strength of both sides were collected. Segmental body composition was analyzed through <i>specific</i> bioelectrical impedance vector analysis. The body composition of the right and left limbs was similar among active individuals (arms: T² = 6.3, n.s.; legs: T² = 5.0, n.s.), with a similar pattern in the three different disciplines. By contrast, the control group showed bilateral asymmetry (arms: T² = 6.8, <i>p</i> < 0.001; legs: T² = 8.8, <i>p</i> < 0.001), mainly because of the higher values of <i>specific</i> reactance (t = 2.4; <i>p</i> = 0.018) and phase angle (t = 2.0; <i>p</i> = 0.054) in the dominant arm, and the higher <i>specific</i> vector length (t = −3.0; <i>p</i> = 0.027) in the left leg. All of the groups showed a higher hand grip strength in the dominant arm (active: t = 7.0, <i>p</i> < 0.001; control: t = 2.9; <i>p</i> < 0.01). In conclusion, the active individuals showed stronger body composition symmetry than the controls, thus indicating a previously undetected positive effect of sport in middle-aged and older adults.