Evaluation of the anaerobic capacity of the lower body of young elite wrestlers

Arab, Hojat; Azarbayjani, Mohammad Ali; Peeri, Maghsood; Sardar, Mohammad Ali

doi:10.22034/27.2.65

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Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2025)

EBNESINA 2025, 27(2): 65-77

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Evaluation of the anaerobic capacity of the lower body of young elite wrestlers

Hojat Arab

, Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani ^*

, Maghsood Peeri

, Mohammad Ali Sardar

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , azarbayjani@iauctb.ac.ir

Keywords: wrestling, heart rate, lactic acid, physical endurance

Full-Text [PDF 1547 kb] (79 Downloads) | Abstract (HTML) (197 Views)

Type of Study: Original | Subject: Military Medicine
Received: 2024/11/2 | Revised: 2025/09/29 | Accepted: 2025/07/22 | Published: 2025/07/23

Extended Abstract: (32 Views)

Introduction

Anaerobic capacity is a fundamental determinant of success in wrestling, particularly in freestyle, where athletes perform explosive movements such as takedowns and throws. These high-intensity efforts primarily rely on anaerobic energy systems, especially during brief periods of maximal exertion. Research indicates that wrestling bouts engage approximately 60% anaerobic (30% alactic and 30% lactic) and 40% aerobic energy contributions [1-3].
The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) remains the gold standard for assessing anaerobic performance; however, its laboratory-based nature, equipment demands, and lack of movement specificity limit its practical use for wrestling coaches and athletes [5-7]. Consequently, there is a need for field-based, sport-specific tests that reflect the physiological and biomechanical demands of wrestling.
The present study aimed to design and validate a 30-second wrestling-specific field test involving repeated double-leg takedowns in the Japanese stance and to assess its correlation with Wingate test outputs in elite young wrestlers.

Methods

This semi-experimental study involved 42 elite freestyle wrestlers from Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, aged between 17 and 23 years. Participants were selected through a combination of purposive and convenience sampling. They met the inclusion criteria of having good general health, at least three years of wrestling experience, and podium finishes at provincial competitions. Exclusion criteria included musculoskeletal injuries, incomplete participation in test sessions, failure to provide blood samples, and involvement in other sports during the study period.
All participants signed informed consent forms and completed a general health questionnaire and medical history form prior to testing.
The study consisted of two main anaerobic performance assessments:
1. The 30-second Wingate anaerobic test.
2. A wrestling-specific 30-second field test involving repeated double-leg takedowns from the left and right sides in a Japanese stance.
Anthropometric indices (height and weight) were measured using a calibrated stadiometer and digital scale. To minimize learning effects, each test was practiced once 72 hours before the main trial.
In the Wingate test, participants pedaled maximally on a calibrated Monark 891E ergometer with a resistance equal to 7.5% of their body weight. Peak power, mean power, minimum power, fatigue index, and total work were calculated using the Monark software.
During the field test, wrestlers executed maximum-effort alternating double-leg takedowns for 30 seconds. Three observers recorded repetitions, time, and technical accuracy.
Physiological responses—heart rate (Polar F4) and blood lactate—were measured at rest, immediately post-test, and at 5 and 10 minutes afterward. Lactate was assessed using EDTA-stabilized venous blood and enzymatic analysis.
Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Shapiro–Wilk and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests for normality, Pearson correlation, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland–Altman agreement, and linear regression for predictive modeling. Reliability thresholds were categorized as poor (<0.50), moderate (0.50–0.75), good (0.75–0.90), and excellent (>0.90).

Results

The study involved 42 elite wrestlers, with a mean age of 19.02 ± 1.66 years, mean weight of 78.48 ± 21.72 kg, mean height of 175.74 ± 7.03 cm, and mean BMI of 23.62 ± 4.65 kg/m².
Key findings:
•      Heart Rate Responses: Significant positive correlations were observed between heart rate responses at various time points (immediate, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes post-exercise) in the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) and the field test (r = 0.427–0.613, p < 0.05), indicating cardiac response compatibility between the protocols.
•      Blood Lactate Levels: No significant correlation was found between the two tests at 5 and 10 minutes post-exercise (r = 0.179–0.239, p > 0.05).
•      Anaerobic Performance Measures: Significant correlations were found for absolute peak power (r = 0.714, p = 0.001), absolute mean power (r = 0.931, p = 0.001), relative mean power (r = 0.437, p = 0.029), minimum absolute power (r = 0.771, p = 0.002), and anaerobic capacity (r = 0.482, p = 0.015). No significant associations were observed for relative peak power, relative minimum power, or fatigue index.
The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for heart rate measures ranged from moderate to good (ICC = 0.572–0.737), while ICCs for lactate levels and most power variables were low (ICC < 0.466), suggesting weak individual-level reliability. Bland–Altman analysis indicated acceptable agreement between the two methods at the group level.
Linear regression confirmed that the field test significantly predicts Wingate anaerobic capacity (r = 0.482, R² = 0.233, p = 0.015). The derived equation—Anaerobic Capacity = 1.36 × Field Test Score + 445.71—suggests that the field protocol is a practical and moderately accurate alternative to WAnT for assessing lower-body anaerobic capacity in wrestlers.

Discussion and Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the wrestling-specific field test is a valid and practical tool for assessing lower-body anaerobic capacity in elite young wrestlers. Despite its limited individual reliability (as reflected in ICC values), the test showed strong group-level correlations with the Wingate test, particularly for mean and peak power outputs—key indicators of explosive muscular performance in wrestling.
The findings align with previous research supporting the use of sport-specific field protocols for anaerobic evaluation in combat sports (19-21). Differences in metabolic markers such as lactate are likely attributable to the movement-specific nature of wrestling and individual variations in lactate clearance.
Given its simplicity, accessibility, and relevance to actual wrestling movements, this field test is recommended for coaches and sports scientists for athlete monitoring, talent identification, and performance optimization. Future research should validate the test in broader populations (e.g., female, cadet, or senior wrestlers) and integrate motion analysis to improve precision and reproducibility.

Ethical Considerations

This study was conducted with ethical approval (code IR.SSRC.REC.1403.084) from the Ethics Committee of the Sports Sciences Research Institute. All ethical principles and guidelines were strictly followed.

Funding

There is no funding support.

Authors’ Contribution

Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.

Conflict of Interest

Authors declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank all the wrestlers who participated in this study and the administration of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad for providing laboratory facilities and equipment.

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Arab H, Azarbayjani M A, Peeri M, Sardar M A. Evaluation of the anaerobic capacity of the lower body of young elite wrestlers. EBNESINA 2025; 27 (2) :65-77
URL: http://ebnesina.ajaums.ac.ir/article-1-1372-en.html

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