Examination of young wrestlers' leg reaction times and their relationships with explosive power

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine young wrestlers' leg reaction times and their explosive powers and their body fat compositions. The second aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between leg reaction times and the explosive power and body fat percentage. 23 male freestyle wrestlers (Mean±SD; age 15.5±1.3 year, height 167.3±1.3 cm, weight 64.5±14.6 kg, BMI 22.9±3.8 kg/m 2), who have been performing wrestling for approximately 6 years, volunteered in the present study. Body compositions of the subjects were determined by the bio-impedance method. Subjects' double leg, right leg and left leg vertical jump tests were administered in sequence with the Bosco device. Later, the subjects' reaction times were measured. Subjects' single leg vertical jump values were determined to be 19.8±4.8cm for the right leg and 19.3±4.4cm for the left leg (t=0.384; p>0.05) and the leg reaction times were determined to be 247.9±31.9 msec for the right leg and 247.7±25.2 msec for the left leg (t=0.026; p>0.05). In conclusion, in wrestling, there is a relationship between leg reaction time and explosive power. The findings obtained in our study indicate that such features as explosive power, speed and reaction time providing short time high energy are the critical factors which determine wrestling performance as well.