Weight control for high school wrestlers GERALD E. LANDWER, Ed.D., GLEN O. JOHNSON, Ph.D., AND RICHARD W. HAMMER, M.D.
Anthropometric
measurements were ob-
tained from 141 Nebraska State Tournament wrestlers in order to predict their ideal minimum
wrestling weight via the Tipton-Tcheng predictim equation. An r of .93 was found between predicted weight and actual weight for 131 of the state tournament
weights).
qualifiers (excluding heavy-
Data indicated that the winners
nearly approximated their predicted weight than did the losers. The mean percent difference between actual weight showed that the upper weight classes (138-185) more closely approximated their predicted weight than the lower weight classes (98-132). The results indicate that a prediction equation can reliably predict a wrestlers ideal weight and could be used to eliminate unwise weight reduction practices. more
Gerald E. Landwer, Ed.D. is coordinator of the Physical Education Instructional and Research Laboratory at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska. Glen O. Johnson, Ph.D. is assistant professor, scientific foundation area, Department of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Richard W. Hammer, MD is a specialist in adolescent medicine, University Health Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Sponsored by the Departments of Physical Education and Student Health Services, University of Nebraska―Lincoln. 88
INTRODUCTION
Tere
are, in the
problems
which
sport of wrestling, few
cause as
much
concern
for
coaches, parents and physicians as &dquo;making weight.&dquo;’-3 Any weight control program that involves selecting a weight class for a particular wrestler should be acceptable to the contestant, coach, parents and physician. Such a program should (a) be easy to administer, (b) offer reasonable guidelines, (c) encourage overall health practices, (d) encourage competing within the rules of the sport, and (e) offer the best chance of success for the athlete within the framework of ability, coaching, training and mental preparedness. It would be advantageous to high school wrestling participants, their coaches and parents to have weight control programs which will offer reasonable guidelines as to a minimum weight at which a wrestler can successfully compete. Earlier studies by Behnke’ and Hall, Cain and Tipton5showed that skeletal measurements could be utilized to predict the body weight of healthy adolescents. With the experiences gained from these and other studies, Tipton and Tcheng’ developed a formula for predicting the &dquo;ideal minimum weight&dquo; for Iowa High School Wrestlers. This formula was based upon the assumption that champion high school wrestlers were performing at their most effective minimum weight. The Tipton-Tcheng method was adopted for further study by the subcommittee on the Medical Aspects of Sports of the Nebraska Medical Association
in cooperation with the Nebraska School Activities Association. In an attempt to determine how well the Tipton-Tcheng formula predicted Nebraska State Wrestling champions, Hammer’ compared the predicted weights with the actual weights of all Class A wrestlers at the 1970-71 Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament. He found that the weight prediction formula worked well for wrestlers in the 120 to 169 pound classes but was not as accurate for the 95 to 112 pound classes. The purpose of this paper is to present further data on an objective method for determining an ideal minimum wrestling weight. We assumed, as did Tipton, that as a group the place-winners in the Nebraska State High School Wrestling Tournament would be examples of highly conditioned wrestlers that would be competing at their most effective body weight. METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Preliminary
data
were
obtained from 431
wrestlers at 13 cooperating Nebraska Class A schools in the fall of 1971. The anthropometrical measurements were taken by persons who had previously been trained in
Figure 1.
I-Directions for
Anthropometric Measurements
Standing Height: Subject stands together. Subject inspires prior to
with hands on hips, feet the measurement. Record
in inches. 2. Chest Width: Subject stands with hands on hips. Place calipers in both axillae near second and third rib. Press firmly and measure at the end of expiration. 3. Chest Depth: Subject stands with right hand at back of neck. Place calipers on xiphoid process of the sternum and on the spine in the same horizontal plane. Measurement is recorded at end of expiration. 4. Ankle’ Width: Subject places his foot flat on a bench with a right angle at knee. Calipers are placed on the internal and external malleolus at an angle of 45° between the sole of the foot and the calipers. Repeat for the opposite ankle and add values together. 5. Wrist Width: Subject allows arm to hang freely. Place calipers outside the ends of the radius and ulna. 6. Hip Width: Subject stands with arms behind his back or conveniently out of the way of the measuring. Locate the anterior superior iliac spine. Press firmly and record mea-
the proper techniques. These persons then gathered data from prospective wrestling candidates at their respective schools. The Tipton-Tcheng formula was then utilized to obtain the ideal-predicted-minimal-weight for each wrestler. These results were provided to the cooperating schools prior to the beginning of the wrestling season. The results were used to provide guidelines for coaches and prospective wrestlers for selecting a desirable wrestling weight. The coaches were asked to identify those wrestlers where possible measurement errors may have occurred. From comments made by the coaches and wrestlers it appeared that for the most part they were satisfied with the predicted weights. The favorable acceptance of the predicted weights by the coaches and the wrestlers, induced the authors to further pursue the use of this formula on 141 state qualifiers. Of the 141 qualifiers only thirty-four had been previously measured in the fall. All anthropometric measurements for this study were taken with a sliding body caliper.* The measurements utilized (Figure 1) were those described by Tipton and Tcheng.1 All measurements were taken in centimeters to the nearest millimeter except for height which was recorded in inches. The predicted minimal body weight for each subject was determined by the formula presented in Figure 2. In addition to the boney-measures mentioned above, skinfold measurements were also taken. This was done to check measurable body fat against the prediction equation. All skinfold measurements were taken with a Lange Skinfold Caliper following the directions described in Figure 3. The authors feel that it is not advisable for a wrestler to go below a total skinfold of 35 millimeters. The rationale for this selection was based upon the assumption that, as a group, the place-winners in the State Tournament would be examples of highly conditioned wrestlers competing at their most effective body weight and upon the fact that the skinfold totals of the state tournament
surement. _
7. Bitrochantric Diameter: Subject stands with his feet together with hands on hips. Place calipers outside the projection of the trochanters and record the measurement.
* Obtained at the University of Iowa, of Medicine Machine Shop.
College
89
finalists from the previous year were seldom below this figure. Due to restrictions placed upon the authors the measuring procedure for the State Tournament differed from those used in the fall in the following manner. At the State Tournament one individual from the team of measurers was responsible for obtaining a single specific anthropometric or skinfold measure. Whereas in the fall each member of a team of measurers was for obtaining all anthropometric and skinfold measurers from each contestant. With few exceptions, the fall and state tournament teams of measurers were different individuals. The authors have found that it is more convenient and practical if one individual is assigned to secure all the measures from a given subject rather than assigning a different individual to secure each measure. In order to determine the extent to which Nebraska state qualifiers fit the TiptonTcheng method for determining an ideal minimum wrestling weight, a correlation coefficient was computed between State Tournament actual weight and the State Tournament predicted weight of all 141 qualifiers. The investigators were also interested in comparing these same differences between State Tournament place winners (places 1-4) as opposed to non-place winners (remaining 8 qualifiers). The median was selected for this comparison. Due to time limitations imposed by the weigh-in procedures at the State Tournament it was not possible to secure repeated measures to determine reliability coefficients. The principle investigators did measure ninety-three Central Ten Conference Tournament wrestlers prior to the State Tournament and demonstrated a high degree of objectivity (r .96).
Figure 2-Calculations
for
Predicting
Minimal
Body Weight
responsible
Figure 3-Directions
for Skinfold Measurements
differences between them for each weight class are presented in Table I. The median weights, median predicted weights, percent differences and median skinfold measurers for the first four place-winners as compared to the eight non-place-winners are presented TABLE I
Mean Actual Weights, Mean Predicted Weights and Mean Percent difference of 141 Nebraska State High School Wrestling Qualifiers
=
RESULTS
A correlation coefficient of .93 was found between predicted weight and actual weight for 131 state qualifiers (excluding heavyweights). This figure corresponds with the data Clarke reported on Minnesota State 9
qualifiers.9 A summary of the
the 90
mean
mean
predicted weights
actual
weights,
and the
percent
*
Weight
class listed with 3
pound
allowance
TABLE II
Weight, Median Predicted Weight, Median Percent Difference From Predicted and Skinfold Measures From State Tournament Place Winners and Non-Place Winners Median
Weight
*
Weight
TABLE III
class listed with 3
pound
allowance.
Comparison of Mean Actual Weight, Mean Predicted Weight and Mean Percent Difference of Lower and Upper Weight Classes
exception of the 105 and 112 weight pound classes, the state qualifiers tended to approximate their predicted weights. The data for the heavyweights, although inthe
cluded in the tables, will not be discussed because of the extreme range in size and
weight.
* Weight
Class Listed With 3 Pound Allow-
ance.
in Table II. Table III presents a breakdown of Table I to demonstrate an apparent discrepancy between the formula’s predictive accuracy for lower weight classes
(98-132) as compared to higher weight (138-183) in this group of subjects. Examination of Table I indicates that, with
classes
From examination of the median percent difference in Table II, it is apparent that in seven of the eleven weight classes (excluding heavyweight) the winners more nearly approximated their predicted weight than did the losers. The authors recognize that no firm conclusions should be drawn from the data in Table II because of the small numbers involved. This data does suggest, however, that these Nebraska State Tournament &dquo;winners&dquo; may be wrestling at a more ideal minimum weight than the losers. In other words, the losers are showing greater difference from their predicted weight than the winners. Perhaps some are losing too much while others might profit by losing more fatty tissue. Examination of Table IIII which is a breakdown of Table I, indicates that the mean percent difference between actual weight and predicted weight for the weight classes 98-132 pounds is 7.3 percent whereas the mean percent difference between actual weight and predicted weight for the 138-185 91
classes is 2.7 percent. Some of the obvious factors involved in these dis-
weight more
crepancies
are:
1. Substantial measurement errors may have consistently occurred within these lower weight classes.
2. The
Tipton-Tcheng equation may not accurately predict for weight classes 98 through 132 pounds. 3. The wrestlers competing in the 98 to 132 lb. weight classes may be losing substantially more weight than the competitors in the other weight classes, and hence, were below their predicted ideal minimum petitive weight. The investigators recognize that
com-
some
errors will occur. However, it belief that the magnitude of the discrepancies in the 98 to 132 lb. weight classes are not due to measurement errors. It would seem that if measurement errors were occurring it would tend to be reflected throughout all the weight classes. Secondly, the anatomical landmarks are generally far more easily palpated on smaller individuals having less adipose tissue than on larger competitors having greater adipose tissue. Therefore, the investigators believe that errors would be more likely to occur in the upper weight classes rather than at the lower
measurement
is
our
weight classes. The possibility does exist that the predictive equation reflects a curvilinear relationship rather than a linear relationship. If this is true a separate predictive equation should be developed for the lower classes or a correction factor based on the percent of error should be utilized. From past experience as former wrestlers and wrestling coaches, the investigators also believe that the large discrepancies between actual weight and predicted weight at the 112 lb. weight class may be attributed to the fact that many of the state tournament contestants at this weight normally wrestle at 119 lb. class during the regular season. Since three additional pounds are added to each weight class by state tournament time (to allow for growth), the 112 lb. class actually becomes 1155 libs. Hence, a boy that loses five or six pounds to wrestle at 119 during the regular season may decide to lose 92
four or five more pounds to wrestle at 115 lbs. for the State Tournament. Therefore, the reason for having a &dquo;growth allowance&dquo; is in some cases, being negated. More likely than not these last few pounds of weight loss are
accomplished by dehydration.
Table III reveals that both the 112 lb. class and the 119 lb. class have a predicted weight of 129 lbs. One could conclude that the majority of wrestlers in these two classes are close to the same size. Some are merely losing more weight than others. This practice could, of course, occur at any weight class but it has been our experience that such
procedures seem to be more prevalent at the lower weights. A large percent of the boys at the lower six weight classes are not likely to be able to successfully compete in the more popular team sports and thus may have a greater incentive
to lose
excessive amounts
of
weight for no other reason than to receive an opportunity to compete and thus gain recognition among their peers. To alleviate the problems alluded to above we recommend that a scientifically determined prediction equation be adopted as a screening device to establish minimum wrestling weights for high school boys. For such as anatomical malformations, residuals or occasional measurement errors, it is likely that a few individuals will not conform to the equation and not be accurately predicted. In these cases the wrestler would need to be referred to a physician who would make the decision as to the best wrestling weight for that individual. Those wrestlers who feel they can safely compete at a weight below their predicted weight would have to obtain a physicians and parental consent. This places the decision for losing weight in the hands of a qualified medical person. The application of the prediction equation used in conjunction with a physicians consent form, for those wrestlers reducing to the next lowest weight class, could help eliminate any excessive weight reduction that might otherwise ocreasons
trauma
cur.
of this method for an entire initially involve some careful planning. We believe reliable measurers could be trained by means of workshops
Adoption
state would
held throughout the state. These persons could then be certified yearly in a fashion similar to the present certification system used for wrestling officials. These individuals could then measure wrestling teams in their respective geographical area and forward the data for analysis to the State Activities Association. The advantages of using the TiptonTcheng formula described in this article are that the formula predicts a weight that correlates with the weight of known winners. In addition, wrestlers, have a definite safe reference weight towards which they can work without undue pressures from coaches, parents and peers, and the responsibility for the decision to wrestle below the predicted weight is given to the
physician. References
1. Ekfelt V: "Eliminating the Criticisms of High School Wrestling." Athletic Journal 37:
10-11, 1956 IH: Sixth Annual
2.
Steinberg
3.
College of Sports Tannehill, Editor, 1959 p 68 Tipton CM and TK Tcheng: Study. JAMA 214: 7, 1970
the Medicine. ME
Meeting of
American
Iowa
Wrestling
4. Behnke AR: "The Estimation of Lean Body Weight from Skeletal Measurements." Hum Biol 31: 205-315, 1959 5. Hall DM, RC Cain and CM Tipton: "Keeping Fit; A 23 Year Study of Evaluation of Physical Fitness Tests." Cooperative Extension Service, Urbana: University of Illinois. pp. 1-37, 1965 6. Tipton, op cit, 1970 7. Hammer RW: "A Minimum Weight for High School Wrestlers." Nebr Med Journal 57:
175-177, 1972 8. Tipton, op cit, 1970 9. Clark RC: "Predicting Certified Weight of Young Wrestlers: A Field Study of The : Tcheng-Tipton Method." Med Sci Sports 6
54, 1974 EDITORIAL COMMENT DR. DONALD L.
COOPER, Oklahoma State
University, Stillwater: The foregoing investigation appears to have been well designed and competently executed. However, from a practical, mass-utilization standpoint, the authors’ approach would be difficult to put into everyday practice. I
am
sure, that
under very
rare
circum-
wrestler may become medically too much dehydration. However, if it were routine for medical problems to result from the various stresses employed by wrestlers to &dquo;make lower weight&dquo;, the smaller wrestlers would become so ill that they probably could not compete. The main objection to starvation and dehydration is that a wrestler who has subjected himself to these conditions, will not perform well on the mat. This would be just as true in practice sessions as in actual contests. This is especially true in tournaments where a wrestler must maintain his certified weight for several days in a row. The ideal way to &dquo;make weight&dquo; is still the very hard-work method of getting rid of subcutaneous fat while, at the same time, maintaining a proper degree of hydration with a balanced nutritional intake. A wrestler following this regimen will perform better, feel better, and truly be in better shape than the wrestler who starves and dehydrates himself. The latter will perform poorly on the mat but I have not seen him bothered by any particular medical problems. The lower weight classes are not as predictable as the middle and upper weight classes;I think the reasons given in the paper for this are valid. The Tipton-Tcheng method of measurement and predictability of an ideal weight is a good tool for a coach or interested person to have. However, to implement a state-wide program of enforcement would be extremely difficult and probably expensive. At the present time, I’m afraid that most physicians in practice would know very little about wrestlers’ weights and probably even less than the coaches with regard to predicting ideal wrestlers’ weights. An absolute, dogmatic approach would not gain universal acceptance. On occasions you will have an unusual athlete who may not fit the scale of measurements just right, but who is able to perform real well on the mat, go to school every day in good spirits and function quite well. The exceptional person has to have somewhere to fit in, so I shy away from any rigid averaging or regimentation of human stances
a
compromised by
beings. 93
There are always exceptions that have to be dealt with on an individual basis. For instance, one of the finest wrestlers we ever had here at Oklahoma State University was a young man who had had polio. Using the Tipton-Tcheng method, his predicted weight would have been too high. However, he ended up a national champion in spite of his handicap and muscle atrophy in one arm. I think it is a great experimental method the authors have presented and I am looking forward to further research on its experimental use in other states. &dquo;Making weight&dquo; is a problem, but, from a medical standpoint, not a very serious one. G. E. LANDWER: We appreciate Dr. Cooper’s remarks and believe that the points he has raised are reasonable. The
94
only real differences of opinion concern the feasibility of implementing the screening procedure and the extent to which high school wrestlers are being &dquo;medically compromised.&dquo; It is our belief that the screening program suggested is within the regulatory jurisL1iction of the state bodies governing high school athletic programs. The task of training personnel to take anthropometric measurements presents no greater problem than that of certifying wrestling officials. In regard to the problem of &dquo;medical compromise&dquo;, our conclusions are based on Tipton’s data, our own personal observations, and the opinions of many interested parties, closely associated with interscholastic wrestling programs.
Anthropometric
measurements were ob-
tained from 141 Nebraska State Tournament wrestlers in order to predict their ideal minimum
wrestling weight via the Tipton-Tcheng predictim equation. An r of .93 was found between predicted weight and actual weight for 131 of the state tournament
weights).
qualifiers (excluding heavy-
Data indicated that the winners
nearly approximated their predicted weight than did the losers. The mean percent difference between actual weight showed that the upper weight classes (138-185) more closely approximated their predicted weight than the lower weight classes (98-132). The results indicate that a prediction equation can reliably predict a wrestlers ideal weight and could be used to eliminate unwise weight reduction practices. more
Gerald E. Landwer, Ed.D. is coordinator of the Physical Education Instructional and Research Laboratory at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska. Glen O. Johnson, Ph.D. is assistant professor, scientific foundation area, Department of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Richard W. Hammer, MD is a specialist in adolescent medicine, University Health Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Sponsored by the Departments of Physical Education and Student Health Services, University of Nebraska―Lincoln. 88
INTRODUCTION
Tere
are, in the
problems
which
sport of wrestling, few
cause as
much
concern
for
coaches, parents and physicians as &dquo;making weight.&dquo;’-3 Any weight control program that involves selecting a weight class for a particular wrestler should be acceptable to the contestant, coach, parents and physician. Such a program should (a) be easy to administer, (b) offer reasonable guidelines, (c) encourage overall health practices, (d) encourage competing within the rules of the sport, and (e) offer the best chance of success for the athlete within the framework of ability, coaching, training and mental preparedness. It would be advantageous to high school wrestling participants, their coaches and parents to have weight control programs which will offer reasonable guidelines as to a minimum weight at which a wrestler can successfully compete. Earlier studies by Behnke’ and Hall, Cain and Tipton5showed that skeletal measurements could be utilized to predict the body weight of healthy adolescents. With the experiences gained from these and other studies, Tipton and Tcheng’ developed a formula for predicting the &dquo;ideal minimum weight&dquo; for Iowa High School Wrestlers. This formula was based upon the assumption that champion high school wrestlers were performing at their most effective minimum weight. The Tipton-Tcheng method was adopted for further study by the subcommittee on the Medical Aspects of Sports of the Nebraska Medical Association
in cooperation with the Nebraska School Activities Association. In an attempt to determine how well the Tipton-Tcheng formula predicted Nebraska State Wrestling champions, Hammer’ compared the predicted weights with the actual weights of all Class A wrestlers at the 1970-71 Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament. He found that the weight prediction formula worked well for wrestlers in the 120 to 169 pound classes but was not as accurate for the 95 to 112 pound classes. The purpose of this paper is to present further data on an objective method for determining an ideal minimum wrestling weight. We assumed, as did Tipton, that as a group the place-winners in the Nebraska State High School Wrestling Tournament would be examples of highly conditioned wrestlers that would be competing at their most effective body weight. METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Preliminary
data
were
obtained from 431
wrestlers at 13 cooperating Nebraska Class A schools in the fall of 1971. The anthropometrical measurements were taken by persons who had previously been trained in
Figure 1.
I-Directions for
Anthropometric Measurements
Standing Height: Subject stands together. Subject inspires prior to
with hands on hips, feet the measurement. Record
in inches. 2. Chest Width: Subject stands with hands on hips. Place calipers in both axillae near second and third rib. Press firmly and measure at the end of expiration. 3. Chest Depth: Subject stands with right hand at back of neck. Place calipers on xiphoid process of the sternum and on the spine in the same horizontal plane. Measurement is recorded at end of expiration. 4. Ankle’ Width: Subject places his foot flat on a bench with a right angle at knee. Calipers are placed on the internal and external malleolus at an angle of 45° between the sole of the foot and the calipers. Repeat for the opposite ankle and add values together. 5. Wrist Width: Subject allows arm to hang freely. Place calipers outside the ends of the radius and ulna. 6. Hip Width: Subject stands with arms behind his back or conveniently out of the way of the measuring. Locate the anterior superior iliac spine. Press firmly and record mea-
the proper techniques. These persons then gathered data from prospective wrestling candidates at their respective schools. The Tipton-Tcheng formula was then utilized to obtain the ideal-predicted-minimal-weight for each wrestler. These results were provided to the cooperating schools prior to the beginning of the wrestling season. The results were used to provide guidelines for coaches and prospective wrestlers for selecting a desirable wrestling weight. The coaches were asked to identify those wrestlers where possible measurement errors may have occurred. From comments made by the coaches and wrestlers it appeared that for the most part they were satisfied with the predicted weights. The favorable acceptance of the predicted weights by the coaches and the wrestlers, induced the authors to further pursue the use of this formula on 141 state qualifiers. Of the 141 qualifiers only thirty-four had been previously measured in the fall. All anthropometric measurements for this study were taken with a sliding body caliper.* The measurements utilized (Figure 1) were those described by Tipton and Tcheng.1 All measurements were taken in centimeters to the nearest millimeter except for height which was recorded in inches. The predicted minimal body weight for each subject was determined by the formula presented in Figure 2. In addition to the boney-measures mentioned above, skinfold measurements were also taken. This was done to check measurable body fat against the prediction equation. All skinfold measurements were taken with a Lange Skinfold Caliper following the directions described in Figure 3. The authors feel that it is not advisable for a wrestler to go below a total skinfold of 35 millimeters. The rationale for this selection was based upon the assumption that, as a group, the place-winners in the State Tournament would be examples of highly conditioned wrestlers competing at their most effective body weight and upon the fact that the skinfold totals of the state tournament
surement. _
7. Bitrochantric Diameter: Subject stands with his feet together with hands on hips. Place calipers outside the projection of the trochanters and record the measurement.
* Obtained at the University of Iowa, of Medicine Machine Shop.
College
89
finalists from the previous year were seldom below this figure. Due to restrictions placed upon the authors the measuring procedure for the State Tournament differed from those used in the fall in the following manner. At the State Tournament one individual from the team of measurers was responsible for obtaining a single specific anthropometric or skinfold measure. Whereas in the fall each member of a team of measurers was for obtaining all anthropometric and skinfold measurers from each contestant. With few exceptions, the fall and state tournament teams of measurers were different individuals. The authors have found that it is more convenient and practical if one individual is assigned to secure all the measures from a given subject rather than assigning a different individual to secure each measure. In order to determine the extent to which Nebraska state qualifiers fit the TiptonTcheng method for determining an ideal minimum wrestling weight, a correlation coefficient was computed between State Tournament actual weight and the State Tournament predicted weight of all 141 qualifiers. The investigators were also interested in comparing these same differences between State Tournament place winners (places 1-4) as opposed to non-place winners (remaining 8 qualifiers). The median was selected for this comparison. Due to time limitations imposed by the weigh-in procedures at the State Tournament it was not possible to secure repeated measures to determine reliability coefficients. The principle investigators did measure ninety-three Central Ten Conference Tournament wrestlers prior to the State Tournament and demonstrated a high degree of objectivity (r .96).
Figure 2-Calculations
for
Predicting
Minimal
Body Weight
responsible
Figure 3-Directions
for Skinfold Measurements
differences between them for each weight class are presented in Table I. The median weights, median predicted weights, percent differences and median skinfold measurers for the first four place-winners as compared to the eight non-place-winners are presented TABLE I
Mean Actual Weights, Mean Predicted Weights and Mean Percent difference of 141 Nebraska State High School Wrestling Qualifiers
=
RESULTS
A correlation coefficient of .93 was found between predicted weight and actual weight for 131 state qualifiers (excluding heavyweights). This figure corresponds with the data Clarke reported on Minnesota State 9
qualifiers.9 A summary of the
the 90
mean
mean
predicted weights
actual
weights,
and the
percent
*
Weight
class listed with 3
pound
allowance
TABLE II
Weight, Median Predicted Weight, Median Percent Difference From Predicted and Skinfold Measures From State Tournament Place Winners and Non-Place Winners Median
Weight
*
Weight
TABLE III
class listed with 3
pound
allowance.
Comparison of Mean Actual Weight, Mean Predicted Weight and Mean Percent Difference of Lower and Upper Weight Classes
exception of the 105 and 112 weight pound classes, the state qualifiers tended to approximate their predicted weights. The data for the heavyweights, although inthe
cluded in the tables, will not be discussed because of the extreme range in size and
weight.
* Weight
Class Listed With 3 Pound Allow-
ance.
in Table II. Table III presents a breakdown of Table I to demonstrate an apparent discrepancy between the formula’s predictive accuracy for lower weight classes
(98-132) as compared to higher weight (138-183) in this group of subjects. Examination of Table I indicates that, with
classes
From examination of the median percent difference in Table II, it is apparent that in seven of the eleven weight classes (excluding heavyweight) the winners more nearly approximated their predicted weight than did the losers. The authors recognize that no firm conclusions should be drawn from the data in Table II because of the small numbers involved. This data does suggest, however, that these Nebraska State Tournament &dquo;winners&dquo; may be wrestling at a more ideal minimum weight than the losers. In other words, the losers are showing greater difference from their predicted weight than the winners. Perhaps some are losing too much while others might profit by losing more fatty tissue. Examination of Table IIII which is a breakdown of Table I, indicates that the mean percent difference between actual weight and predicted weight for the weight classes 98-132 pounds is 7.3 percent whereas the mean percent difference between actual weight and predicted weight for the 138-185 91
classes is 2.7 percent. Some of the obvious factors involved in these dis-
weight more
crepancies
are:
1. Substantial measurement errors may have consistently occurred within these lower weight classes.
2. The
Tipton-Tcheng equation may not accurately predict for weight classes 98 through 132 pounds. 3. The wrestlers competing in the 98 to 132 lb. weight classes may be losing substantially more weight than the competitors in the other weight classes, and hence, were below their predicted ideal minimum petitive weight. The investigators recognize that
com-
some
errors will occur. However, it belief that the magnitude of the discrepancies in the 98 to 132 lb. weight classes are not due to measurement errors. It would seem that if measurement errors were occurring it would tend to be reflected throughout all the weight classes. Secondly, the anatomical landmarks are generally far more easily palpated on smaller individuals having less adipose tissue than on larger competitors having greater adipose tissue. Therefore, the investigators believe that errors would be more likely to occur in the upper weight classes rather than at the lower
measurement
is
our
weight classes. The possibility does exist that the predictive equation reflects a curvilinear relationship rather than a linear relationship. If this is true a separate predictive equation should be developed for the lower classes or a correction factor based on the percent of error should be utilized. From past experience as former wrestlers and wrestling coaches, the investigators also believe that the large discrepancies between actual weight and predicted weight at the 112 lb. weight class may be attributed to the fact that many of the state tournament contestants at this weight normally wrestle at 119 lb. class during the regular season. Since three additional pounds are added to each weight class by state tournament time (to allow for growth), the 112 lb. class actually becomes 1155 libs. Hence, a boy that loses five or six pounds to wrestle at 119 during the regular season may decide to lose 92
four or five more pounds to wrestle at 115 lbs. for the State Tournament. Therefore, the reason for having a &dquo;growth allowance&dquo; is in some cases, being negated. More likely than not these last few pounds of weight loss are
accomplished by dehydration.
Table III reveals that both the 112 lb. class and the 119 lb. class have a predicted weight of 129 lbs. One could conclude that the majority of wrestlers in these two classes are close to the same size. Some are merely losing more weight than others. This practice could, of course, occur at any weight class but it has been our experience that such
procedures seem to be more prevalent at the lower weights. A large percent of the boys at the lower six weight classes are not likely to be able to successfully compete in the more popular team sports and thus may have a greater incentive
to lose
excessive amounts
of
weight for no other reason than to receive an opportunity to compete and thus gain recognition among their peers. To alleviate the problems alluded to above we recommend that a scientifically determined prediction equation be adopted as a screening device to establish minimum wrestling weights for high school boys. For such as anatomical malformations, residuals or occasional measurement errors, it is likely that a few individuals will not conform to the equation and not be accurately predicted. In these cases the wrestler would need to be referred to a physician who would make the decision as to the best wrestling weight for that individual. Those wrestlers who feel they can safely compete at a weight below their predicted weight would have to obtain a physicians and parental consent. This places the decision for losing weight in the hands of a qualified medical person. The application of the prediction equation used in conjunction with a physicians consent form, for those wrestlers reducing to the next lowest weight class, could help eliminate any excessive weight reduction that might otherwise ocreasons
trauma
cur.
of this method for an entire initially involve some careful planning. We believe reliable measurers could be trained by means of workshops
Adoption
state would
held throughout the state. These persons could then be certified yearly in a fashion similar to the present certification system used for wrestling officials. These individuals could then measure wrestling teams in their respective geographical area and forward the data for analysis to the State Activities Association. The advantages of using the TiptonTcheng formula described in this article are that the formula predicts a weight that correlates with the weight of known winners. In addition, wrestlers, have a definite safe reference weight towards which they can work without undue pressures from coaches, parents and peers, and the responsibility for the decision to wrestle below the predicted weight is given to the
physician. References
1. Ekfelt V: "Eliminating the Criticisms of High School Wrestling." Athletic Journal 37:
10-11, 1956 IH: Sixth Annual
2.
Steinberg
3.
College of Sports Tannehill, Editor, 1959 p 68 Tipton CM and TK Tcheng: Study. JAMA 214: 7, 1970
the Medicine. ME
Meeting of
American
Iowa
Wrestling
4. Behnke AR: "The Estimation of Lean Body Weight from Skeletal Measurements." Hum Biol 31: 205-315, 1959 5. Hall DM, RC Cain and CM Tipton: "Keeping Fit; A 23 Year Study of Evaluation of Physical Fitness Tests." Cooperative Extension Service, Urbana: University of Illinois. pp. 1-37, 1965 6. Tipton, op cit, 1970 7. Hammer RW: "A Minimum Weight for High School Wrestlers." Nebr Med Journal 57:
175-177, 1972 8. Tipton, op cit, 1970 9. Clark RC: "Predicting Certified Weight of Young Wrestlers: A Field Study of The : Tcheng-Tipton Method." Med Sci Sports 6
54, 1974 EDITORIAL COMMENT DR. DONALD L.
COOPER, Oklahoma State
University, Stillwater: The foregoing investigation appears to have been well designed and competently executed. However, from a practical, mass-utilization standpoint, the authors’ approach would be difficult to put into everyday practice. I
am
sure, that
under very
rare
circum-
wrestler may become medically too much dehydration. However, if it were routine for medical problems to result from the various stresses employed by wrestlers to &dquo;make lower weight&dquo;, the smaller wrestlers would become so ill that they probably could not compete. The main objection to starvation and dehydration is that a wrestler who has subjected himself to these conditions, will not perform well on the mat. This would be just as true in practice sessions as in actual contests. This is especially true in tournaments where a wrestler must maintain his certified weight for several days in a row. The ideal way to &dquo;make weight&dquo; is still the very hard-work method of getting rid of subcutaneous fat while, at the same time, maintaining a proper degree of hydration with a balanced nutritional intake. A wrestler following this regimen will perform better, feel better, and truly be in better shape than the wrestler who starves and dehydrates himself. The latter will perform poorly on the mat but I have not seen him bothered by any particular medical problems. The lower weight classes are not as predictable as the middle and upper weight classes;I think the reasons given in the paper for this are valid. The Tipton-Tcheng method of measurement and predictability of an ideal weight is a good tool for a coach or interested person to have. However, to implement a state-wide program of enforcement would be extremely difficult and probably expensive. At the present time, I’m afraid that most physicians in practice would know very little about wrestlers’ weights and probably even less than the coaches with regard to predicting ideal wrestlers’ weights. An absolute, dogmatic approach would not gain universal acceptance. On occasions you will have an unusual athlete who may not fit the scale of measurements just right, but who is able to perform real well on the mat, go to school every day in good spirits and function quite well. The exceptional person has to have somewhere to fit in, so I shy away from any rigid averaging or regimentation of human stances
a
compromised by
beings. 93
There are always exceptions that have to be dealt with on an individual basis. For instance, one of the finest wrestlers we ever had here at Oklahoma State University was a young man who had had polio. Using the Tipton-Tcheng method, his predicted weight would have been too high. However, he ended up a national champion in spite of his handicap and muscle atrophy in one arm. I think it is a great experimental method the authors have presented and I am looking forward to further research on its experimental use in other states. &dquo;Making weight&dquo; is a problem, but, from a medical standpoint, not a very serious one. G. E. LANDWER: We appreciate Dr. Cooper’s remarks and believe that the points he has raised are reasonable. The
94
only real differences of opinion concern the feasibility of implementing the screening procedure and the extent to which high school wrestlers are being &dquo;medically compromised.&dquo; It is our belief that the screening program suggested is within the regulatory jurisL1iction of the state bodies governing high school athletic programs. The task of training personnel to take anthropometric measurements presents no greater problem than that of certifying wrestling officials. In regard to the problem of &dquo;medical compromise&dquo;, our conclusions are based on Tipton’s data, our own personal observations, and the opinions of many interested parties, closely associated with interscholastic wrestling programs.
