Características antropométricas y capacidad aeróbica de los jugadores de la Selección Peruana de Fútbol sub-22, 2015

Background: Aerobic capacity (VO_2max) can influence sports performance. During the last decades, the Peruvian National Football Team has achieved irregular results in international competitions. This may be influenced by the aerobic capacity of its soccer players. Objective: To describe the aerobic capacity and anthropometric measures of the u22 Men’s National Football Team of Peru, 2015. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in professional soccer players of the u22 Peruvian National Football Team, 2015. We evaluated their aerobic capacity through the direct measurement of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) using treadmill testing. Anthropometric measures were assessed by a level 3 ISAK-certified antrhopometrist (accredited by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry). We also evaluated the correlation between the VO_2max and anthropometric measures. Results: We evaluated 24/25 soccer players from the team; the median age was 20 years. The median VO_2max was 65.5 mlO₂/kg/min [range: 58.5-76.6]. The sample’s median body mass index was 24.2 Kg/m² [range: 20.8-25.6], the median relative muscle mass was 47.6% [range: 42.9-51.5] and the median relative adiposity, 25.9% [range: 20.5-32.7]. We found the VO_2max to be positively correlated with the relative muscle mass (Spearman’s Rho=0.65; p<0.001) and negatively correlated with relative adiposity (Spearman’s Rho=0.48; p=0.018). Conclusions: Median aerobic capacity of the u22 Peruvian National Football Team soccer players was high and it was positively correlated with the relative muscle mass and negatively correlated with relative adiposity.