(26) THE RELATIONSHIP OF ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ON COMPETITIVE SUCCESS IN AMATEUR, ELITE, AND PROFESSIONAL RODEO ATHLETES

Reference anthropometric and physical qualities can improve understanding of sporting needs and streamline preparation and rehabilitation programs. However, these data and their relationships with competitive success are absent in rodeo athletes.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the key predictors of rodeo performance, and if these qualities differed between events. We hypothesized that riding performance would be most correlated with hip adductor, neck, and grip strength, while jump, reactive strength index (RSI), and change of direction abilities would best predict bull-fighting performance.

Methods: Forty-three amateur (n=9), professional (n=23), or internationally ranked (n=11) male rodeo athletes (bareback=9, bull-riders=16, saddlebronc=7, bull-fighters=11) volunteered (26.8±5.6 years). Anthropometrics included body mass, height, and body-fat percentage. Performance measures included isometric hip adduction and abduction, neck flexion and extension, handgrip strength, squat and countermovement jump heights, eccentric utilization ratio, RSI, change-of-direction, bike sprints, and several pneumatic power measures.

Results: Fighters were taller and heavier than bull-riders (Hedges’ g effect size [ES]=0.84-0.87, p=0.008-0.017). Bull-riders were leaner than fighters (ES=0.74, p=0.012). Fighters had greater RSI than riders (ES=0.73-1.47, p< 0.001-0.030). Competitive level of riders (n=32) was correlated with age, and rodeo experience (Spearman’s Rho [ρ]=0.37-0.43, p=0.013-0.049), bent-leg abduction (ρ=0.43, p=0.014) and straight-leg hip adduction and abduction (ρ=0.49-0.56, p< 0.001-0.005) and neck flexion force (ρ=0.43, p=0.016), and rotational power (ρ=0.50, p=0.004). The competitive level of fighters was correlated with age (ρ=0.64, p=0.036) and time-trial performance (ρ=-0.76, p=0.006).

Conclusion: This is the first study providing normative and correlational strength and power performance data in a rodeo population. These data highlight the need for more event-specific physical preparation. Longitudinal intervention studies are required to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between competitive success add physical qualities. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hip strength and upper-body rotational power appear vital for riders. Therefore, strength and conditioning coaches should consider including and hip adduction and abduction-focused exercises like Copenhagen planks, banded adductions, and lateral slide adductions. Neck flexion strengthening and rotational exercises such as medicine ball throws should also be included for the riding athletes. Conversely, high anaerobic power and RSI were the most apparent qualities of interest for bull-fighters. Sports medicine professionals can use the normative data when working with rodeo athletes in return-to-sport contexts. Finally, the normative data may increase motivation and facilitate goal setting.

Acknowledgements: None