Digit ratio (2D:4D): relationship with freestyle swimming performance of adolescent well-trained swimmers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15561/18189172.2019.0307Keywords:
athlete, digit ratio, performance, sport, swimmingAbstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between the digit ratios and freestyle swimming performance of adolescent well-trained swimmers. Material and Methods: Twenty-two well-trained male swimmers who had at least 3 years of swim training experience were recruited as participants. The participants’ mean age was 14.1±1.5 years, body height was 164.5±11.3 cm, and body mass was 54.4±11.2 kg. Participants’ body height, mass, index finger (2D) and ring finger (4D) lengths were measured and digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index of participants was calculated. To determine the swimming performance of participants, the short (50m and 100m) and middle (200m and 400m) distance freestyle time-trial swimming tests were performed on participants. The association between the 2D:4D ratio and the swimming performance were determined by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results. Our findings indicated that there were strong negative correlations (r > .50) between the mean of BMI and swimming times of adolescent swimmers. ( p > .05 ). However, result of this study revealed no relationship between the digit ratio (2D:4D) and swimming performance in adolescent swimmers. ( p > .05 ). Conclusion. As a result, it may be stated that the 2D:4D ratio of swimmers is not a major parameter in predicting swimming performance for adolescent swimmers.Downloads
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References
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https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410802707029
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https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022018000100310
23. Dyer M, Short SE, Short M, Manning JT, Tomkinson GR. Relationships between the second to fourth digit ratio (2D: 4D) and game‐related statistics in semi‐professional female basketball players. Am J Hum Biol. 2018;30(1):e23070.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23070
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https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200232090-00001
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203685
26. Peeters MW, Claessens AL. Digit ratio (2D: 4D) and competition level in world-class female gymnasts. J Sports Sci. 2013;31(12):1302-11.
27. Jia J. Research on the relationship of the digit ratio and the throwing ability of throwing athlete in sports undergraduate college. Bio Thecnology An Indian Journal. 2014;10(9):3698-703.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/13.11.3000
2. Longman D, Stock JT, Wells JC. Digit ratio (2D:4D) and rowing ergometer performance in males and females. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2011;144(3):337- 41.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21407
3. Lutchmaya S, Baron-Cohen S, Raggatt P, Knickmeyer R, Manning JT. 2nd to 4th digit ratios, fetal testosterone and estradiol. Early Hum Dev. 2004;77:23– 28.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2003.12.002
4. McIntyre MH. The use of digit ratios as markers for perinatal androgen action. Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 2006;4: 10-20.
5. Muller DC, Giles GG, Bassett J, Morris HA, Manning JT, Hopper JL, et al. Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and concentrations of circulating sex hormones in adulthood. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2011;9:57.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-9-57
6. Tambe MK, Turankar AV., Lingawar S, Dhokane NB, Pophali NP, Kherde PM, Bajaj V. Influence of digit ratio (2D: 4D) on reaction time and athletic sprint performance: A short term pilot study. MedPulse International Journal of Physiology. 2018;5(2):17-21.
7. Liu TC, Kuo CH, Wang PS. Exercise and testosterone. Adaptive Medicine. 2009;1(1):26-31.
8. Voracek M. Special issue preamble: Digit ratio (2D: 4D) and individual differences research. Personality and Individual Differences. 2011;51(4): 367-70.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.04.018
9. Bennett M, Manning JT, Cook CJ, Kilduff LP. Digit ratio (2D:4D) and performance in elite rugby players. J Sports Sci. 2010;28(13):1415-21.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.510143
10. Cardinale M, Stone MH. Is testosterone influencing explosive performance?. J Strength Cond Res. 2006;20(1):103-7.
11. Eler N, Eler S. 2D: 4D, Lateralization and Strength in Handball Players. Journal of Education and Training Studies. 2018;6(5):170-8.
https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v6i5.3220
12. Kilduff L, Cook CJ, Bennett M, Crewther B, Bracken RM, Manning J. Right– left digit ratio (2D: 4D) predicts free testosterone levels associated with a physical challenge. J Sports Sci. 2013;31(6):677-83.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.747690
13. Celik A, Aksu F, Tunar M, Dasdan AEN, Topacoğlu H. Effects of digit ratio of master athletes on sporting achievement levels. DEÜ Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi. 2010;24(3):89-93.
14. Honekopp J, Schuster M. A meta-analysis on 2D: 4D and athletic prowess: Substantial relationships but neither hand out-predicts the other. Personality and Individual Differences. 2010;48(1):4-10.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.08.009
15. Hull MJ, Schranz NK, Manning JT, Tomkinson GR. Relationships between digit ratio (2D: 4D) and female competitive rowing performance. Am J Hum Biol. 2015;27(2):157-63.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22627
16. Jurimae T, Voracek M, Jurimae J, Latt E, Haljaste K, Saar M, Purge P. Relationships between finger-length ratios, ghrelin, leptin, IGF axis, and sex steroids in young male and female swimmers. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;104(3):523-29.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0801-z
17. Ramos E, Frontera WR, Llopart A, Feliciano D. Muscle strength and hormonal levels in adolescents: gender related differences. Int J Sports Med. 1998;9(08):526-31.
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-971955
18. Garcia‐Cruz E, Huguet J, Piqueras M, Ribal MJ, Alcaraz A. Second to fourth digit ratio, adult testosterone level and testosterone deficiency. BJU Int. 2012;109(2):266-71.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10249.x
19. Holzapfel SD, Chomentowski III PJ, Summers LAM, Sabin MJ. The relationship between digit ratio (2D:4D), VO2max, ventilatory threshold, and running performance. International Journal of Sports Sciences & Fitness. 2016;6(1):1-30.
20. Bescos R. Esteve M, Porta J, Mateu M, Irurtia A, Voracek M. Prenatal programming of sporting success: Associations of digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen action, with world rankings in female fencers, J Sports Sci. 2009;27(6):625-32.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410802707029
21. Van Dongen S. Second to fourth digit ratio in relation to age, BMI and life history in a population of young adults: a set of unexpected results. Journal of Negative Results. 2009;6:1-7.
22. Balcı RS, Acıkgoz AK, Goker P, Bozkir MG. The Relationship of finger length ratios (2D:4D) with quantitative, verbal talent and anthropometric parameters. International Journal of Morphology. 2018;6(1):310-18.
https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022018000100310
23. Dyer M, Short SE, Short M, Manning JT, Tomkinson GR. Relationships between the second to fourth digit ratio (2D: 4D) and game‐related statistics in semi‐professional female basketball players. Am J Hum Biol. 2018;30(1):e23070.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23070
24. Smith DJ, Norris SR, Hogg JM. Performance evaluation of swimmers: scientific tools. Sports Med. 2002;32(9):539-54.
https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200232090-00001
25. Lombardo MP, Otieno S, Heiss A. College-aged women in the United States that play overhand throwing sports have masculine digit ratios. PloS One. 2018;13(9):e0203685.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203685
26. Peeters MW, Claessens AL. Digit ratio (2D: 4D) and competition level in world-class female gymnasts. J Sports Sci. 2013;31(12):1302-11.
27. Jia J. Research on the relationship of the digit ratio and the throwing ability of throwing athlete in sports undergraduate college. Bio Thecnology An Indian Journal. 2014;10(9):3698-703.
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Published: 2019-06-29
How to Cite
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Özen G, Atar Ö., Koç H. Digit ratio (2D:4D): relationship with freestyle swimming performance of adolescent well-trained swimmers. Pedagogics, psychology, medical-biological problems of physical training and sports. 2019;23(3):150-4. https://doi.org/10.15561/18189172.2019.0307
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