Anthropological and Perceptual Predictors Affecting the Ranking in Arm Wrestling Competition

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors contributing to be in the first three places with right and left arm in armwrestling. Seventy-three male senior armwrestlers competed in Turkish National Championship voluntarily participated in this study. Some participants competed with both arms. Two samples were composed of according to the participant competition category, for right (69 participants) and left arm (65 participants). The data were collected from eight different weight classes. Handgrip strength, auditory reaction time, forearm length, and forearm circumference were determined as the predictors. All the measurements were taken after weigh-ins had been done and before the first day of national championship competition. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict whether a competitor in armwrestling would be in the first three places either with right or left arm, to be a winner or non-winner. Relative handgrip strength was found a significant predictor for both right and left arm ranking (p < 0.05). Auditory reaction time was found a significant predictor only for right arm ranking (p < 0.05) and forearm circumference was found a significant predictor only for left arm ranking (p < 0.05). These results suggest that strength can be viewed as the main predictor in left arm ranking; however, auditory reaction time is also an important factor to be in the first three places in right arm ranking. Thus, competitors should also focus to improve this perceptual skill.