Why the study?
Does participation in high school wrestling affect body composition, strength, and health compared to controls?
Does participation in high school wrestling affect body composition, strength, and health compared to controls?
High school wrestling is associated with significant body fat loss, decreased grip strength, and lower energy levels during the season.
High school wrestling may warrant monitoring for strength and energy declines; leaves open long-term effects and optimal weight strategies in youth athletes.
In brief: Body weight, percent body fat, grip strength, illnesses, energy level, emotional stability, and bowel habits were studied in 104 wrestlers and 73 control subjects at the beginning and end of the 1980–81 and 1981–82 winter wrestling seasons. Wrestlers lost significantly more body fat than controls, and their grip strength and energy levels also decreased. There were no differences between groups in illnesses or emotional stability, but wrestlers' bowel habits were more regular. Emotional stability declined among wrestlers in lower weight classes. Comparisons between weight classes suggest that different growth allowances may be warranted during the season.
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Jerry Freischlag (1984) studied this question.
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