Effects of weight reduction and weight maintenance on arm strength and maximum aerobic power of high-school wrestlers

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if weight loss over a 2-week period affected fitness levels of wrestlers. Seven high-school wrestlers lost weight in a 2-week period while 9 high-school wrestlers maintained weight. Both groups had isokinetic arm strength and maximum aerobic power tested before and after the 2-week period. The arm strength was measured by using peak torque values at 60 and 180 degrees per second for arm flexion and extension. Aerobic power was measured by the duration the wrestlers performed with the Bruce protocol on the treadmill.;There was an increasing trend in arm strength for wrestlers who lost weight, especially with arm extension at 60 degrees per second. The wrestlers who maintained weight actually decreased in three of the four tests for arm strength. Improvement in aerobic power was observed only with the weight maintenance group.