Body Composition, Aerobic Fitness, Isokinetic Profile, and Vertical Jump Ability in Elite Male and Female Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Players

This study aimed to compare the physical attributes of male and female Volleyball and Beach Volleyball athletes.

Fifty-five athletes from Volleyball (Male, n = 19, age 27.3 ± 6.1 years, body mass 93.2 ± 9.9 kg, and height 196.8 ± 7.4 cm and Female, n = 16, age 28.0 ± 5.6 years, body mass 76.9 ± 8.8 kg, and height 179.9 ± 5.8 cm) and Beach Volleyball (Male, n = 10, age 26.8 ± 3.4 years, body mass 92.9 ± 9.9 kg, and height 195.3 ± 7.9 cm and Female, n= 10, age 31.1 ± 6.2 years, body mass 74.6 ± 8.5 kg, and height 180.9 ± 6.0 cm) participated in the study. All tests were performed in a single visit to the laboratory in the following order: body composition, vertical jump (squat and countermovement jump), isokinetic (knees and shoulders), and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All variables were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA (Sex and Sport factors) for independent groups.

Beach Volleyball athletes presented lower body fat (P = 0.03; ES = 0.32) and higher maximal cardiorespiratory variables (VO₂, HR, and vVO_2max). Only flexion bilateral difference (knee) at 60°/s was affected by sex (P = 0.002; ES = 0.63). For shoulders, only dominant external/internal rotation ratio presented a significant interaction for sport and sex (P = 0.05; ES = 0.28). Regarding vertical jumps, Volleyball male players presented a greater elastic index than BV male players (P = 0.002, ES = 0.67).

Beach Volleyball players are thinner and have better cardiorespiratory fitness than Volleyball players. Also, they presented less use of elastic properties for vertical jumping and have a greater muscle imbalance in the hamstrings than Volleyball players.