Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the relationship between muscle strength and body composition with bone mass in young Chilean tennis players. The study was observational, cross-sectional, with descriptive and analytical characteristics. The sample consisted of 51 young Chilean male tennis players (15.5 +/- 0.7 years old) who were selected non-probabilistically and for convenience. Anthropometric variables of weight, height, sitting height, skinfolds (triceps, anterior thigh, and medial leg), perimeters (arm, thigh, and leg), femur diameter, and forearm length were measured, along with hand grip strength (FPM), medicine ball throw (LBM), and countermovement jump (CMJ). Peak acceleration of growth velocity (APVC), skeletal muscle mass (MME), percentage of fat (GC), bone mineral density (DMO) and bone mineral content (CMO) were calculated. The results show that, in the body composition variables, MME is better associated with DMO (R-2= 25% p 0.01) and CMO (R-2= 20%; p 0.01). In the muscle strength tests, the CMJ presents the best relationship with the indicators of bone mass, DMO (R-2= 14%; p 0.01) and CMO (R-2= 19%; p 0.01). It is concluded that the MME is the indicator that shows the best relationship with DMO and CMO in the evaluated tennis players, while the CMJ is the muscle strength test that shows the best relationship with these indicators of bone mass.