Composição corporal e espessura muscular após carga de carboidrato em fisiculturistas competitivos

Abstract

Aim: Evaluate body composition (BC), muscle thickness (MT) of bodybuilders in competition and, to describe the training variables performed between off season (OFF) and pre contest (PRE) periods of preparation. Materials and methods: 20 male bodybuilders were screened at the moments (M1): day of official weigh-in for competition and (M2): day of competition, 24 hours after weighing followed by the carbohydrate loading (CHO loading). BC measurements (Lean mass:% LM; Fat mass:% FM) and MT (Vastus lateralis: LV; Biceps brachii: BB) by ultrasonography (US); intracellular water (IWC); extracellular water (EWC) in percentage (%) and liters (L), total body water (TBW), TBW in relation to body mass (TBW/BM) through bioelectrical impedance (BIA); training record (TR) on OFF and PRE periods and containing background information; food record (FR) of the last 24 hours after the official weighing of the competition to obtain the description of the CHO loading performed by the athlete as a strategy. They were distributed as follows: M1 (US; BIA and TR) and M2 (US; BIA and RA). The level of significance was set at p <0.05. Results: After carrying out this strategy, statistically significant differences were found for the levels of% LM, %FM with increase and reduction, respectively, and moderate effect size (TE = 0.51), with no significant differences for the VL muscle thickness (p = 0.526) and BB (p = 0.888). For the water compartments EWC and IWC, only the content of WIC (L) showed a significant difference (p <0.006), showing a reduction and moderate effect size (ES = 0.45). TBW(L) and in relation to MC (TBW / BM), also showed statistically significant differences (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007, respectively) with low ES for TBW (L) (ES = 0.34) and moderate for the TBW / BM (ES = 0.57). The athletes described the accomplishment of a smaller number of repetitions and greater loads in the OFF with the accomplishment of 4 exercises per muscular group (45.5%) and the total of 4 series of exercises (60 %), while in the PRE they performed 5 and 6 or more exercises per muscle group (25 and 30%, respectively) and only 40% performed 4 sets. The greater amount and duration of aerobic training sessions was described in the PRE. (CHO loading was performed with an average intake of 2,501.6 ± 896.0 kcal, with 83.0% CHO, 11% protein and 6% fat. Intake of 458.8 ± 157.0 grams of CHO). Conclusion: The CHO loading carried out by amateur bodybuilders promoted changes in body composition and water compartments without significant effects on the analyzed muscle thickness. The bodybuilders carry out changes in training according to the stages of preparation for the competition.