Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate: Aaron Wellman

Athletic success is likely to depend on several factors including, but certainly not limited to, the health status, skill level, and related physical qualities and abilities of the individual. At an elite level, an important consideration is the role body composition may play regarding optimal performance. American football is a high-intensity, collision sport, in which a unique blend of speed, strength, power, and agility contribute to successful performance.  Athletes who possess, and endeavour to further improve these physical abilities, may be better prepared to handle the rigors of competition. Individuals with larger amounts of lean body mass may also possess greater force production capability, which may contribute to improvements in speed, agility, and quickness.  Conversely, athletes who possess a higher level of adipose mass may experience underperformance in coordination, balance, movement ability, and aerobic fitness.  

Assessing the body composition and anthropometric characteristics of athletes will provide valuable insights, not only for athletes, but coaching and performance staff alike. These measures may be utilized to identify, and subsequently correct, potential limitations to optimal performance. Additionally, such measures may be used as a means of position-specific talent identification in the recruiting process, and potentially for the stratification of injury risk. Equipped with this information, practitioners will be empowered to make informed, data-driven recommendations with regards to training and nutritional interventions, improving performance, and reducing the risk of injury. 

Body composition may be evaluated by a variety of methods, of which DEXA, BOD POD, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), and skinfold measures generally appear to be most utilized in college football players. While each method has its own inherent strengths and limitations, a paucity of studies has evaluated longitudinal changes in body composition in American football players. Published research identifying the anthropometric characteristics of players, the individual muscle mass carrying capability, and its relationship to physical performance measures is non-existent. A unique method of quantifying body composition in this manner is the 5-way fractionation technique, which calculates not only muscle and adipose mass, but also skeletal mass, skin mass, and residual mass.  However, to date, there is limited published research examining the 5-way fractionation method in high level athletes, while no research has been published examining this methodology in American football players. Therefore, given the potential importance of body composition on athletic performance, an investigation of the 5-way fractionation methodology will provide new knowledge in the area specifically related to American football players.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 0746 311088.