The Comparison of Physical Fitness Factors between Korea Water Polo National-team and Reserve-team Athletes

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate isokinetic muscle strength (IMS), anaerobic power, basic physical fitness, and body composition of Korean water polo athletes in the national team (NT) and reserve team (RT).METHODS: Twenty-nine male water polo athletes (aged 22.2±1.9 years) including 14 NT and 15 RT athletes participated in this study. The participants were evaluated for physiological parameters such as body composition, physical fitness, IMS, and anaerobic power. The IMS of the knees and shoulders (60°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s, indicating maximal muscle strength, muscle power, and muscle endurance, respectively) and trunk (30°/s and 120°/s) were measured using a dynamometer (NORM, CSMI, USA). Anaerobic parameters were also measured using the 30-s maximal ergometer cycling Wingate test (Monark, Sweden).RESULTS: No significant differences in the IMS of the knee were found between two groups. Although the IMSs of shoulder flexion at 180º/s and 60°/s were not significantly different between the two groups, the IMSs of shoulder extension at 180º/sec and 60°/s in NT athletes were higher than those in RT athletes (p<.05, p<.01). There were no significant differences between the NT and RT (NS) groups in the left and right knee flexion/extension ratios (H/Q ratio, 60º/sec, 180º/sec). However, a significant difference was found in the right shoulder extension/flexion ratio (E/F ratio) between the two groups. Although height, muscle mass, fat mass, and Wingate anaerobic power were not significantly different between the two groups, the FEV1 and FVC of NT athletes were higher than those of RT athletes, respectively (p<.05, p<.01).CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the athletic characteristics of water polo players who pass and shoot and make swimming movements. The difference in the shoulder extensor muscle strength was one of the determining factors for the performance of water polo athletes.