Relationship between body composition and flexibility in elite female basketball players and women who regularly exercise for fitness: a pilot study

Purpose: This study was carried out to examine the relationship between body composition and flexibility of female elite basketball players and regularly exercising women and to compare the groups. Material and methods: Fifteen volunteered professional basketball players (mean age 24.47 +/- 3.80 years) (Group 1) and 14 volunteered regularly exercising women (mean age 26.00 +/- 1.92 years) (Group 2) attended in the study. Attendees' body compositions were measured by Tanita MC-180MA (TM) with bioelectric impedance method (BIA) and flexibility was tested by "sit and reach" test. Results: Between two groups difference has been found in body mass index, left and right legs muscle mass, fat free muscle mass and "sit and reach" test (p<0.05). In Group 2 no relation was found between sit and reach test and characteristics of body composition (p>0.05). Conclusion: As a result of our pilot study a relation was found between some body composition parameters and flexibility in elite women basketball players. In further research series these parameters have to be examined more with the flexibility measurements. The results of such research will help to reduce the injuries that are related to body composition, sportive performance and flexibility.