Scheduled for Exercise Physiology and Fitness, Biomechanics and Sports Medicine Posters, Friday, April 4, 2003, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall A


Body Composition and Aerobic Fitness Profile of Collegiate Cheerleaders

Beth Ann Young, David Q. Thomas, Ashley L. Miller, Tara L. Holmes, Tami K. Rudsell and Jeffrey G. Seegmiller, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

There are over ¼ million cheerleaders on high school and collegiate squads in the United States. Cheerleaders strive to maintain strictly regulated levels of body fatness and have a high degree of aerobic fitness. Even with these requirements, cheerleaders are not always considered to be athletes. Additionally, very little is known about the physiological characteristics of collegiate cheerleaders. The purpose of this study was to provide baseline data describing the body composition and aerobic fitness characteristics of a squad of collegiate cheerleaders. Eleven male (age: 20.1 ± 1.6 yrs; ht: 177.3 ± 5.7 cm; wt: 89.7 ± 12.4 kg) and seven female (age: 19.4 ± 1.1 yrs; ht: 157.4 ± 2.8 cm; wt: 53.5 ± 4.4 kg) collegiate cheerleaders were tested to determine body composition through skinfold assessment (%BF: M=14.9 ± 7.8; F=17.6 ± 3.3) and underwater weighing (%BF: M=16.4 ± 5.2; F=15.5 ± 6.9 ). Aerobic fitness was determined by heart rate max (M=191 ± 9.3 bpm; F=190 ± 13.9 bpm) and through a Bruce protocol VO2 max test (M=48.8 ± 6.6 ml.kg-1.min-1; F=40.7 ± 5.8 ml.kg-1.min-1). According to norms from the ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, both male and female body fat percentages are within zones associated with good health. VO2 max scores place the men and women at the 80th percentile of norms generated at the Cooper Institute. The results revealed that the aerobic fitness and body composition levels of these collegiate cheerleaders were equivalent to those observed in other college level athletes.

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