Physiological Performance and Skin Health Indicator of Elite East Java Kabaddi Athletes: A Pilot Study
Downloads
Objective: Kabaddi is a high-intensity contact sport requiring strength, agility, speed, and endurance. In humid tropical environments, physiological factors such as body composition, training load, and movement patterns may influence skin health risk. This study evaluates both physiological performance indicators and friction-induced skin lesions in elite kabaddi athletes from East Java, Indonesia.
Methods and Materials: This lab-controlled experimental pilot study involved 28 male elite Kabaddi athletes in East Java, assessed under standardized training conditions. Inclusion criteria were active competition status, age 18–30 years, and absence of acute injury. Physiological assessments included body composition, aerobic capacity (VO2max), muscular strength, agility, and speed, all measured using validated protocols. Skin health evaluation consisted of post-activity physical examination for friction-induced lesions, scored on a standardized 0–4 scale, with anatomical site, pain, and itch recorded.
Findings: Athletes had an average body weight of 65.95 ± 2.75 kg, height of 169.29 ± 5.06 cm, and body fat percentage of 19.46 ± 4.20 %. Agility was moderate T-test (agility) 9.77 ± 0.52 s, sprint performance was good (20 m in 3.20 ± 0.13 s), and aerobic capacity was moderate (VO2max: 40.50 ± 7.19 ml/kg/min). Friction-induced skin lesions were found in 57.10% of athletes, mostly mild (score 1–2), with the groin and axilla as the most common sites.
Conclusion: East Java's elite kabaddi athletes demonstrate a lean body composition and a sport-specific performance profile, although their aerobic capacity and lower-limb strength could be improved. The high prevalence of mild friction-induced lesions highlights the importance of integrating skin health monitoring into athlete conditioning and preventive programs, particularly in humid, high-contact sports.
Downloads
Aggarwala, J., Dhingra, M., Bhatia, V., Hasan, U., & Chatterjee, S. (2019). Analysis of physical and physiological requirements of Indian male junior kabaddi players in relation to their playing positions. Spor Hekimliği Dergisi, 54(4), 215-224. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjsm.2019.135
Ahomies, H., Descamps, V., Leclerc‐Mercier, S., & Kluger, N. (2025). Skin diseases in long‐distance runners. JEADV Clinical Practice, 4(2), 378-388. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.613
Arora, G., Khandpur, S., Bansal, A., Shetty, B., Aggarwal, S., Saha, S., Sachdeva, S., Gupta, M., Sharma, A., & Monalisa, K. (2023). Current understanding of frictional dermatoses: A review. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 89(2), 170-188. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJDVL_519_2021
Charmeau-Genevois, C., Sarang, S., Perea, M., Eadsforth, C., Austin, T., & Thomas, P. (2021). A simplified index to quantify the irritation/corrosion potential of chemicals–Part I: Skin. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 123, 104922. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.104922
Islam, R., & Islam, K. N. (2025). Cutaneous friction injuries and blister prevention in athletes: From stratum corneum mechanics to smart-textile solutions: A systematic review. Methods, 2, 3. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.70389/PJSPS.100010
Nuzzo, J. L. (2020). The case for retiring flexibility as a major component of physical fitness. Sports Medicine, 50(5), 853-870. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01248-w
Pal, S., Kalra, S., Kumar, S., Pawaria, S., & Rishi, P. (2020). A literature review on common injuries and their prevention in kabaddi. European Journal of Sports & Exercise Science, 9(1), 1-9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348512423_A_Literature_Review_on_Common_Injuries_and_Their_Prevention_in_Kabaddi
Paradise, S. L., & Hu, Y.-W. E. (2021). Infectious dermatoses in sport: a review of diagnosis, management, and return-to-play recommendations. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 20(2), 92-103. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000808
Pol, R., Balagué, N., Ric, A., Torrents, C., Kiely, J., & Hristovski, R. (2020). Training or synergizing? Complex systems principles change the understanding of sport processes. Sports Medicine-Open, 6(1), 28. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00256-9
Pramanick, S., Chowdhuri, P., Dutta, R., & Rahaman, A. (2022). The strength and power of kabaddi and athletics players. International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH, 19(1.37), 20.28-21.40. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v10.i3.2022.4532
Prianto, B. A., Apriantono, T., Ray, H. R. D., & Solikah, N. L. (2024). Analysis of injury characteristics in youth elite football athletes in Indonesia. Retos, 55, 476-482. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v55.103485
Pujalte, G. G., Costa, L. M., Clapp, A. D., Presutti, R. J., & Sluzevich, J. C. (2023). More than skin deep: dermatologic conditions in athletes. Sports Health, 15(1), 74-85. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211065026
Raspal, S., & Hoshiyar, S. (2013). An evaluation of selected physical fitness variables of Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and wrestling players from Haryana and Punjab, India. Research Journal of Physical Education Sciences, 1(2), 1-4. https://www.isca.me/phy_edu_sci/archive/v1/i2/1.isca-rjpes-2013-008.pdf
Rasteiro, A., Santos, V., & Massuça, L. M. (2023). Physical training programs for tactical populations: brief systematic review. Healthcare, doi: 10.3390/healthcare11070967
Roy, M. C., & Sarkar, S. (2022). Comparison of body composition among the selected groups of female kabaddi players. International Journal of Kinanthropometry, 2(2), 58-64. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2226
Shelke, A., Bawari, B., Adhikari, R., Kamath, S., Nahak, R. K., Warrington, C. R., & Pullinger, S. A. (2024). Anthropometric characteristics and somatotypes in elite pro kabaddi league players. International Journal of Kinanthropometry, 4(2), 57-66. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2426
Simpson, R. A., Didymus, F. F., & Williams, T. L. (2023). Interpersonal psychological well-being among coach-athlete-sport psychology practitioner triads. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 67, 102435. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102435
Solikah, N. L., Apriantono, T., Ferryanto, F., Nurhasan, N., Wiyono, A., Firmansyah, A., Widodo, A., Putro, A. B., & Prianto, B. A. (2024). Measuring shoulder range of motion to diagnose shoulder injury among weightlifters: A study in athletes with and without shoulder injury. Retos, 59, 355-359. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v59.103360
Steins, R., Breitbach, A. P., Ross, M., Ciarlo, E., Melillo, E., & Brant, O. (2024). It takes a team—enhancing student-athlete health and well-being through an interprofessional approach. Sports, 12(8), 209. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12080209
Suryaraj, S., & Rajkumar, M. (2024). Investigating the impact of six-week kettlebell training on selected bio motor abilities and performance variables of kabaddi players. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(5), 972–981. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i5.2024.4770
Susanto, N., García-Jiménez, J. V., Nowak, A. M., Setyawan, H., Pavlovic, R., Rusdiawan, A., & Syaukani, A. A. (2024). Development assessment model for talent identification of young indonesian basketball players: Anthropometrics, biomotor, technical, and tactical skills. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 12(4), 625-635. https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2024.120403
Szot, A., Kmak, B., & Górska, M. (2024). The most common dermatoses of athletes. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 67, 54887. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2024.67.54887
Titis Penggalih, M. H. S., Isnanta, R., Rahadian, B., Margono, M., Sujadi, D., Wicaksari, S. A., Reswati, V. D. Y., Indriyani, S., & Niamilah, I. (2024). Association between nutrient intake and height among adolescent athlete in indonesia: A cross-sectional study. Amerta Nutrition, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v8i1.2024.40-48
Twomey, D. M., Petrass, L. A., Fleming, P., & Lenehan, K. (2019). Abrasion injuries on artificial turf: A systematic review. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 22(5), 550-556. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.005
Utama, M. B. R., Subekti, M., S, A., & Ihsani, S. I. (2025). The physical dominant component of kabaddi: Is it a true predictor? Jurnal Sains Keolahragaan Dan Kesehatan, 10(1), 71-83. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5614/jskk.2025.10.1.7
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
