ORIGINAL PAPER
Anthropometrically estimated lean body mass and neuromuscular performance in young male wrestlers: a cross-sectional study
1
Motion, Equilibrium, Performance and Health Laboratory (MEPS), STAPS Department, University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, Tarbes, France
2
Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sport Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Sciences in Sport (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2026-04-26
Acceptance date: 2026-06-30
Online publication date: 2026-09-15
Corresponding author
Soufiane Kaabi
Motion, Equilibrium, Performance and Health Laboratory (MEPS), STAPS Department, University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, 11 street Morane Saulnier, 65000 Tarbes, France
Motion, Equilibrium, Performance and Health Laboratory (MEPS), STAPS Department, University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, 11 street Morane Saulnier, 65000 Tarbes, France
KEYWORDS
adolescent athletesbody compositionmuscle strengthathletic performanceisometric strengthcombat sports
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
This study examined the associations between anthropometrically estimated lean body mass and selected neuromuscular performance outcomes in young male wrestlers.
Methods:
Fifty-two young male wrestlers completed a cross-sectional body composition and neuromuscular test battery. Estimated lean body mass of 56.53 ± 8.08 kg was derived from anthropometric variables using the Deurenberg equation for percentage body fat, then calculated as body mass minus estimated fat mass. Performance outcomes included squat jump, countermovement jump, 5-m sprint, one-repetition maximum back squat, one-repetition maximum bench press, isometric mid-thigh pull absolute peak force, handgrip strength, and Modified Agility T-test time. Linear regression models adjusted for a competition level examined associations between estimated lean body mass and each outcome.
Results:
Estimated lean body mass was positively associated with squat jump, countermovement jump, one-repetition maximum back squat, one-repetition maximum bench press, isometric mid-thigh pull absolute peak force, and handgrip strength, and negatively associated with 5-m sprint time, with all associations being statistically significant (p < 0.001). The adjusted association with Modified Agility T-test time approached but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.059).
Conclusions:
Anthropometrically estimated lean body mass was consistently associated with force- and power-oriented outcomes in young male wrestlers. Monitoring estimated lean body mass with field-based neuromuscular tests may support athlete profiling, provided that results are interpreted in relation to weight-category demands, training background, competition level, and the indirect nature of the body composition estimate.
This study examined the associations between anthropometrically estimated lean body mass and selected neuromuscular performance outcomes in young male wrestlers.
Methods:
Fifty-two young male wrestlers completed a cross-sectional body composition and neuromuscular test battery. Estimated lean body mass of 56.53 ± 8.08 kg was derived from anthropometric variables using the Deurenberg equation for percentage body fat, then calculated as body mass minus estimated fat mass. Performance outcomes included squat jump, countermovement jump, 5-m sprint, one-repetition maximum back squat, one-repetition maximum bench press, isometric mid-thigh pull absolute peak force, handgrip strength, and Modified Agility T-test time. Linear regression models adjusted for a competition level examined associations between estimated lean body mass and each outcome.
Results:
Estimated lean body mass was positively associated with squat jump, countermovement jump, one-repetition maximum back squat, one-repetition maximum bench press, isometric mid-thigh pull absolute peak force, and handgrip strength, and negatively associated with 5-m sprint time, with all associations being statistically significant (p < 0.001). The adjusted association with Modified Agility T-test time approached but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.059).
Conclusions:
Anthropometrically estimated lean body mass was consistently associated with force- and power-oriented outcomes in young male wrestlers. Monitoring estimated lean body mass with field-based neuromuscular tests may support athlete profiling, provided that results are interpreted in relation to weight-category demands, training background, competition level, and the indirect nature of the body composition estimate.
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