Table 1. Basic information of the included swimmers.
| Variables | Elite swimmers (n = 89) | Non-elite swimmers (n = 165) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of attaining the highest level (years) | 17.94 ± 2.17 | 17.11 ± 1.28 | 0.001 |
| Gender, female (n, %) | 41 (46%) | 68 (41%) | 0.5 |
| FINA point | 793.8 ± 73.8 | 560.6 ± 78.7 | <0.001 |
| Stature (cm) | 179 ± 8 | 176 ± 7 | <0.001 |
| Weight (kg) | 72 ± 11 | 70 ± 11 | 0.2 |
| Back of foot height (cm) | 7.58 ± 0.53 | 7.50 ± 0.58 | 0.3 |
| Head circumference (cm) | 56.47 ± 1.85 | 57.14 ± 1.60 | 0.004 |
| Body fat percentage (%) | 15 ± 6 | 18 ± 7 | 0.007 |
| Skeletal muscle mass (kg) | 34.5 ± 6.4 | 32.3 ± 6.3 | 0.009 |
| Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) | 22.23 ± 2.15 | 22.50 ± 2.80 | 0.4 |
| Ratio of arm to stature | 44.18 ± 0.84 | 43.80 ± 0.96 | 0.001 |
| Ratio of arm to leg length A | 81.70 ± 1.53 | 81.18 ± 1.84 | 0.018 |
| Torso length (cm) | 54.6 ± 3.2 | 52.4 ± 3.0 | <0.001 |
| Torso length index | 1.92 ± 0.11 | 1.86 ± 0.11 | <0.001 |
| Biceps circumference difference (cm) | 2.15 ± 0.85 | 1.84 ± 0.80 | 0.004 |
| Ratio of hand breadth to length | 43.31 ± 1.93 | 43.75 ± 2.13 | 0.093 |
| Ratio of ankle circumference to achillis tendon length | 96 ± 8 | 100 ± 9 | 0.003 |
| Ratio of upper to lower leg length | 115.3 ± 3.7 | 115.5 ± 3.9 | 0.8 |
| Ratio of leg length A to stature | 54.09 ± 1.04 | 53.97 ± 1.11 | 0.4 |
| Leg length A to H | 93.09 ± 1.00 | 92.67 ± 0.95 | 0.001 |
| Leg length B to H | 87.47 ± 0.88 | 87.37 ± 1.12 | 0.4 |
| Leg length C to H | 76.50 ± 1.26 | 75.95 ± 1.26 | 0.001 |
| Ratio of bitrochanteric to biacromial breadth | 76.4 ± 3.6 | 77.9 ± 4.1 | 0.003 |
| Ratio of biiliocristal to bitrochanteric breadth | 86.9 ± 2.9 | 86.6 ± 3.3 | 0.5 |
| Ratio of waist to chest | 79.0 ± 3.3 | 81.2 ± 4.5 | <0.001 |
| Ratio of waist to hip | 83.0 ± 3.3 | 82.3 ± 4.4 | 0.2 |
| Ratio of foot breadth to length | 36.08 ± 1.75 | 36.29 ± 1.68 | 0.3 |
Notes:
Data were presented as mean ± SD or n (%). The P-values were calculated by Welch two sample t-test and Pearson’s Chi-squared test.
SD, standard deviation.
BMI means weight/height2 (kg/m2); Arm means upper limb length (cm); Leg length A means iliospinale posterior height (cm); Torso length means acromion height—trochanterion height (cm); Torso length index means torso length/biiliocristal breadth; Biceps circumference difference means maximum biceps circumference—minimum biceps circumference (cm); Upper leg length means thigh length (cm); Leg length H means eristailiaca height (cm); Leg length B means trochanterion height (cm); Leg length C means gluteal height (cm).