Factors Affecting Body Composition: Study on Athletes After ACL Injury
Abstract
Background. Following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, many athletes experience decreased physical activity and altered body composition.
Aim. This study aims to determine the factors that affect body composition after athletes experience ACL injuries.
Methods. This cross-sectional study examined factors influencing body composition in 18 athletes from State University of Jakarta (UNJ) recovering from ACL injuries. The gender percentage was 61.11% males and 38.89% females, and the age range was 20–27 years. Data on current age, sex, age of injury, and surgical treatment were collected via questionnaire. Height was measured with a stadiometer, and weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition parameters (body fat percentage, muscle mass, water content, protein, and bone density) were assessed using biological impedance analysis (BIA). Bivariate analyses (Pearson Product-Moment Correlation) identified significant associations between body composition and demographic or clinical variables.
Results. Results showed that sex significantly influenced body fat (p = 0.008), muscle mass (p = 0.000), body water (p = 0.018), and bone density (p = 0.000). Age correlated with body fat (p = 0.037), protein (p = 0.002), and bone density (p = 0.010). BMI was linked to fat percentage (p = 0.025) and water content (p = 0.012). Body weight strongly associated with muscle mass (p = 0.000) and borderline with bone density (p = 0.050). Age of injury, intervention type, and height showed no consistent effects.
Conclusions. The study concluded that body composition after ACL injury was influenced mainly by current age, sex, body weight, and BMI, while age of injury, intervention type, and height had minimal impact.
Keywords: factors; body composition; athletes; ACL injury
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