Unit 5 – Literacy Review
I am a sport science student currently carrying out my own research project. To determine whether aerobic capacity is affected by BMI and skinfold measurements and to find the relationship between them in female rugby union players who are currently apart of a college AASE team who are between the ages of 16years old – 19 years old. This review is to help me find similar research which has been completed, to identify similar methods to use when conducting my own research to ensure that my research methods are reliable and valid, also by using similar methods means that my results used has a possible connections with other research. The literacy review helps myself to find evidence to support my study and results but will help to show my work is innovative and different to others. The way in which research and other sources have been found is by using the population, variables and measurements of my own research, to identify common links with other researchers. The population of my study is women rugby union players in college, the measurements will be aerobic capacity completed by a yoyo test and the variables consist of BMI and Skinfold tests. When deciding if the external source is suitable to my research I will ensure that there is 2 or 3 links in common with my research. I will also pick the most recent research to ensure that the data has not been outdated and can be trustworthy data.
NM Hene (2011) aimed to investigate changes in physical fitness of elite women’s rugby union players over a competition season. They investigated 32 elite women’s rugby players, subdivided into 17 forwards and 15 backs over a pre, mid and post season. The began by taking 7 Skinfold measurements of each player alongside a physical performance test including a vertical jump. They found no significant change in sum of skin folds and fitness tests, but sprint times increased and decreased between early pre, mid-season and mid-post season. Results by NM Hene (2011) found that athletes need to train at higher loads especially in the predatory phase which relates to my research as I am research a women’s rugby team also investigating the amount of skin fold a person has affecting their fitness levels. Research by NM Hene (2011) will support my research as in my research I will be looking at skinfold measurements and how the skin fold results of an athlete may affect their results. NM Hene (2011) method of skinfold helps to support my research design as it includes the same method of testing body composition.
DG Higham (2013) researched into anthropometric, physiological and performance qualities of elite level rugby sevens players and quantified relationships between these characteristics. 18 male international rugby sevens players undertook anthropometric(body mass, height, sum of 7 skinfolds, acceleration and speed, muscle-power, repeated sprint ability, and endurance. They found relationships between measurements by correlation analysis. They found 7s players had anthropometric characteristics (body mass 89.7 kg, sum of 7 skinfolds 52.2 mm) their results in all sevens players was every similar to backs in internal 15 players rugby union. They found acceleration, speed, muscle power and endurance were very similar or better than those professional 15 a side players. They also found relative VO2 Max was correlated with yoyo distance and moderate correlation with 40 m sprint times. They concluded international rugby sevens players require well-developed power, speed and endurance to make sure they can keep up with opposition when in competition, they also found very similar results between all of the rugby sevens players and all need similar physical performance standards compared to 15 a side players. This relates to my research as I am conducting tests by using the yoyo intermittent test, skin fold and BMI scores, by using the same tests helps to support my research in the methods that I use to get results. It also helps to support my research as I am investigating these results upon rugby players, whereby players have had experience in both 7s and 15s rugby.
Clarke Et al.2014) investigated into critical velocity as a measure of aerobic fitness in women’s rugby sevens. They completed both a laboratory VO2 Max test and a field based test (yoyo intermittent test) in 7s players. This research involved 22 female Australian rugby 7s national team members. In their results they found critical velocity was highly correlated with the yoyo test and critical velocity is an appropriate fitness test and correlates well with 7s rugby data. This research works well with mine as it involve elite performers in women’s rugby and so results are similar but also states the results of a yoyo test which will be a test that I used to measure the aerobic capacity in my research therefore I will be able to compare results to see if there is a relationship between mine and Clarke et al (2014) research.
Scott AC et al.2003) researched into aerobic exercise physiology in professional rugby union team. They researched elite rugby players in 2 groups of forwards and backs so once tested they could see the difference between the 2 groups. They underwent many tests; cardiopulmonary exercise testing, lung spirometry,a 3 km timed run and body fat measurements. They found peak oxygen uptake was higher in backs with no difference in peak respiratory exchange. However forwards were found to be taller and heavier with a higher fat content and forced expiratory volume in 1s and a negative correlation between peak VO2 and timed 3 km run for all. Overall they concluded these results could be due to 2 groups different body structures, being shorter, lighter and having a lower percentage of body fat, differences which are likely to be resulting of selection for specific roles in the game should always be taken into account when testing aerobic fitness in a rugby team. This related with my research as I am investing a women’s rugby team but also to find a relationship between the aerobic capacity which relates to this study as it is heavily based upon testing aerobic capacity and VO2 Max. Also throughout this research as they have tested using body fat percentage links into the BMI and skinfold tests.
Saint Maurice Pf et al.2014) studied the impact of body mass index on the agreement between aerobic capacity estimates from different progressive aerobic cardiorespiratory endurance run (PACER) equations a the mile run test. They completed the research by 2 aerobic fitness tests on a large group of data including young children in 2 suburban districts. Difference estimates between the mile run test and PACER equations were computed. To help identify the implication of discrepancy between tests they used FITNESSGRAM which gives standards for the BMI tests. Results found discrepancy between tests was higher in participants with higher BMI scores. BMI explained 30%-34% of the disagreement between the mile and different PACER equations of aerobic fitness. PACER data which was used in the fitness gram program had a better agreement than PACER equations that included BMI. Saint Maurice PF et al. research correlates to my own study as I am investing the effects of aerobic capacity which 2 types are used and the effect with BMI which is also involved in my research. The other factor relating to my research is the aspects of aerobic capacity which in this research are not the same tests as mine, therefore could be a possibly thought to have as to which aerobic that is most beneficial.
G. M. Duthie et al.(2006) researched into the utility of practical measure of lean mass for monitoring changes in the body composition of athletes. In his study he use 72 rugby union players, 40 forwards and 32 backs, who were assessed on several occasions to develop a mean score. They took the measurements of 7 skinfolds in different areas and recording these scores to help prove a lean Max index formed of mass/skinfolds and seeing changes throughout the season. They found that forwards had a small decrease in skin fold between preseason and competition phases and a slight increase during club season. After 1 year and overall small increased occurred in all players whereas increases for forwards because substantial after 3 years. Individual variation in the body within a season was very small. They concluded that an index of lean mass based on body mass and skinfolds was an effective way of assessing body composition. Like G. M. Duthie el al (2006) I am assessing body composition of elite rugby players using skinfold tests, by other researched being completed by skin folds and elite rugby players helps to support my research and the method that I am using to determine body composition by using the skinfold test.
Warren Rosenberg (2015) article based upon BMI affecting VO2 Max has concluded and summarised that people with high BMI measurements have a relationship with reduced levels of physical fitness including a lowered VO2 Max. Within the article they consider VO2 Max as a fitness indicator and is has the ability to include all aspects (respiratory capacity, cardiovascular health and muscle fitness) and how a possible decline in these areas will lead to a reduced VO2 Max. It also considers how high BMI scores are linked to lower VO2 Max scores which relates to my research as it is a relationship that I hope to discover. This research has many factors which go along side my own research — aerobic fitness and VO2 Max. As it is also an article whereby I am looking for similar findings it helps support my researches and possible results.
FitnessGram(2011) article based upon the relation between BMI and aerobic capacity standards, whereby a table has been devised to show the correlation between the 2 variables of BMI and aerobic capacity and what I deemed to be in a healthy fitness zone dependent on the persons BMI and results from either a mile run, or a PACER. This goes alongside my research as it shows how BMI changes the aerobic capacity levels, which is what I hope to show throughout my research.
Stephen J. Atkins(2006) assessed the performance of elite rugby league players by using the yo-yo intermittent recovery test. He used 50 players who had been classified as a professional or semi professional player, meaning they fall into the participation and elite categories. The total distances gathered was taken as a performance index. Results showed that professional players in the yoyo tests achieved a greater distance than those who were semi professional. The test was considered a useful measure of intermittent high intensity performance for rugby league players. This research helps support the use of yoyo intermittent test within my research and the method that I am using, it also correlates with my research as their results were completed upon rugby players at an elite level of performance.
Inigo Mujika (2010) article was based upon the assessment of match fitness in team sports through the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test. Whereby in the article he discusses the way in which team sports should test cardiovascular and metabolic demands of sports, and how the nature of the sport should be taken into consideration and intermittent performance tests such as the yoyo test.These intermittent tests are most like match games therefore are best predictor of match fitness. This relates to my research as I am looking for the best way to evaluate aerobic capacity / VO2 Max in the athlete, and by being a yoyo intermittent tests means it best replicates their match performance results giving myself more accuracy when finding a relationship in my results and being related to match fitness gives me an insight to their fitness upon a game giving me more validity.
Conclusions –
Throughout all sources there were a few common trends. First with research that took part on athletes, 6/10 were known to be in elite categories of performance with only very few being of a lower participation standards, showing that research has only been done on the elite end of sporting performance therefore research may not be similar to people of a lower participation standards and when looking into results they have to be careful when extrapolating to wider populations. Another trend which occurs is the use of rugby players, 6/10 research was conducting upon rugby players, whereby only 1 of these was on league, and the rest on rugby union players. This will help support me in my research as my research is based around rugby union players, but can affect my reliability and validity as it does not investigate much into rugby league players as their results may differ to mine. The other positive for me is tests used throughout others research in all research, different researchers used BMI, skinfolds and yoyo tests helping to support my choice of research and they are considered reliable tests.
Similarities between resources also include; researchers finding out that intermittent yoyo test was one of the most beneficial ways to find out VO2 Max/aerobic capacity scores. With majority of the results found to have significant. This area also includes that majority of research was based upon a small sample sizes apart from research by Inigo Mujika (2010) and Saint Maurice PF (2014) which may impact results and affect the reliability and validity.
Differences in research include research being longitudinal studies which took place over 3 years and were followed up, whereas some research was completed within a couple of months, this is helpful to me as it gives me ideas on how different lengths of research can effect results and findings. Also there was many cultures within the studies meaning it gives me a wide variety of research which can be looked at, and can give me ideas if there is possible cultural factors which could play a part in research and if these factors may have a possible affect on my results.
Weaknesses – in some of the sources used may not be specific enough to my research to be able to support my results as much research focuses on many aspects in their research and focuses upon several different tests affecting the validity of the tests. Also a weaknesses is not all of the research studies used link to all aspects (population, variables, measurement) of my aim therefore affect the amount that i can use others findings to support my own. There are also no ages throughout research studies meaning these elite players could be of any ages.
I agreed to much of the research completed especially the article by Warren Rosenberg (2015) which I particular agree with as I also hope to find a research whereby BMI affects VO2 max of the athlete. Most of the conclusions have helped clarify what I believe my hypothesis to be.
Key Questions from the research
The main question from the research is there a direct correlation between BMI, Skinfolds and Aerobic capacity and many researchers have investigated it, but as there are also other variables within their research there is not definite answer. Also a question that has come about is do men and women have the same responses, as much of the research found was majority completed on elite mens rugby union teams, do females results have the same effect? Completing my research on women’s rugby still gives it an innovative design. The final question that I have is, does age affect the results? Because in this research there are no specific ages and only sports performance levels, and would be interesting to know as I am completing my research on teens, I would also like to find research into results which are based upon adults and young children.
From my literature review I have developed a hypothesis that I believe there will be a positive correlation between BMI and skinfold results affecting aerobic capacity.
References –
Clarke AC, 2014. Critical Velocity as a measure of aerobic fitness in womens ugly 7’s. Journal science medicine sports. 17 January.
D.G. Higham et al. 2013. Physiological, anthropometric, and performance characteristics of rugby sevens players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and performance. January.
G.M Duthie et al. 2006. Anthropometry Profiles of elite rugby players: quantify changes in lean mass. Journal sports medicine. March. pp. 202-207.
Iñigo Mujika, 2010. Assessment of match fitness in team sports through the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. [online] Available at: <http://www.inigomujika.com/en/2010/09/assessment-of-match-fitness-in-team-sports-through-the-yo-yo-intermittent-recovery-test-i/1067#.VPCBrSkXfR0> [accessed 10 February]
FITNESSGRAM, 2011. The Relation Between BMI and Aerobic Capacity Standards. [online] Available at: <https://www.cooperinstitute.org/vault/2440/web/files/658.pdf> [Accessed 10 February 2015]
Livestrong 2015. How does BMI affect VO2 Max? [online] Available at: <http://www.livestrong.com/article/356265-how-does-bmi-affect-vo2-max/> [accessed on 10 January]
N.M. Hene, 2011. Physical fitness of elite rugby union players over a competitive season, Sajsm. June. Vol 25 No. 2. pp.47-49.
Saint Maurice Pf et al. 2014. Measurement agreement between estimates of aerobic fitness in youth: the impact of body mass index. Research quarterly for exercise and sport. March. pp. 59-67.
Scott AC et al. 2003. Aerobic exercise physiology in a professional rugby inion team. Journal of cardiology. 8 February. pp.87-173.
Stephen J Atkins, 2006. Performance of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test by elite professional and semiprofessional rugby league players. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. March.
Worthing College Sport and Exercise Science 