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== Other sports ==
== Other sports ==
It has been noted that [[swimmers]] tend to have longer arms in relation to their body size,<ref>{{Harvnb|Lavoie|Montpetit|1986|p=168}}.</ref> perhaps because longer arms provide a stronger means of propulsion and a shorter [[trunk (anatomy)|trunk]] (or torso) reduces drag in the water. A notable example is [[Michael Phelps]] whose arm span is 12&nbsp;cm greater than his height, affording him an index of 1.06.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/olympics/2008/08/can_anyone_spoil_phelps_pool_p.html</ref>
It has been noted that [[swimmers]] tend to have longer arms in relation to their body size,<ref>{{Harvnb|Lavoie|Montpetit|1986|p=168}}.</ref> perhaps because longer arms provide a stronger means of propulsion and a shorter [[trunk (anatomy)|trunk]] (or torso) reduces drag in the water. A notable example is [[Michael Phelps]] whose arm span is 10&nbsp;cm greater than his height, affording him an index of 1.052.<ref>https://www.scienceabc.com/sports/michael-phelps-height-arms-torso-arm-span-feet-swimming.html</ref>


There is evidence to support that having a higher index will be beneficial to a football goalkeeper. It can also compensate for being shorter than the recommended norm for a professional goalkeeper. Iker Casillas and Jorge Campos are prime examples of shorter goalkeepers who possess a higher than average index.
There is evidence to support that having a higher index will be beneficial to a football goalkeeper. It can also compensate for being shorter than the recommended norm for a professional goalkeeper. Iker Casillas and Jorge Campos are prime examples of shorter goalkeepers who possess a higher than average index.

Revision as of 05:25, 19 July 2017

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci. Based on proportions identified by Vitruvius, the drawing shows a man where the arm span is equal to the height, giving an Ape Index of 1.

Ape index, or ape factor,[1] or gorilla index is a measure of the ratio of an individual's arm span relative to their height. A typical ratio is 1, as identified by the Roman writer, architect and engineer Vitruvius prior to 15 BC. Vitruvius noted that a "well made man" has an arm span equal to his height, as exemplified in Leonardo da Vinci's drawing, the "Vitruvian Man".[2] In rock climbing it is believed that an Ape Index greater than one, where the arm span is greater than the height, provides for a competitive advantage, and some climbers have expressed the belief that exercise can result in an improved ratio, although this view is somewhat controversial.[3]

Computation

The ape index is usually defined as the ratio of arm span to height. However, an alternative approach is arm span minus height with the result being positive, 0 or negative. Unlike the unitless ratio, this calculation produces a numeric value in the units of measurement used to represent the height and arm span.

Statistical significance in rock climbing

Multiple studies have been conducted into the effect of physiological factors, such as anthropometry and flexibility, in determining rock climbing ability. A number of these have included the Ape Index as one of the variables. However, the results have been mixed.

One study found that "untrainable" physical factors, including the Ape Index, were not necessarily predictors of climbing ability, in spite of a general tendency identified in previous studies for elite athletes in the sport to share these characteristics.[4] This was supported by a later study that also found that the Ape Index was not statistically relevant. However, the authors of this second study noted that the findings may have been due to the low variability in the index between the climbers, who all had significantly higher Ape Indices than those found in the control group. Thus they left open the possibility that the Ape Index may be more significant when there is a greater degree of equivalence between the other traits under consideration.[5]

Countering these studies are other works that have identified the Ape Index as a significant (or potentially significant) factor. A 2001 study comparing teenage male and female rock climbers noted that performance differences between the genders could be explained by a number of factors, one of which was the lower Ape Index found in the female climbers.[6] Similarly, in a later work it was found that the Ape Index was statistically significant, and thus determined that it was one of a number of variables that provided the highest diagnostic value in the prediction of climbing performance.[7]

Other sports

It has been noted that swimmers tend to have longer arms in relation to their body size,[8] perhaps because longer arms provide a stronger means of propulsion and a shorter trunk (or torso) reduces drag in the water. A notable example is Michael Phelps whose arm span is 10 cm greater than his height, affording him an index of 1.052.[9]

There is evidence to support that having a higher index will be beneficial to a football goalkeeper. It can also compensate for being shorter than the recommended norm for a professional goalkeeper. Iker Casillas and Jorge Campos are prime examples of shorter goalkeepers who possess a higher than average index.

In basketball, a higher index helps with defense, especially in contesting shots and intercepting passes. It also helps with rebounding, and with dribbling or passing under pressure. Finally, it directly helps shooting under pressure. David Epstein in his book The Sports Gene devoted a chapter to "The Vitruvian NBA Player" and therein noted "The average arm-span-to-height ratio [i.e., ape index] of an NBA player is 1.063."[10] Having an ape index of less than 1 is very rare among NBA players; only two players in the NBA 2010–11 season had one.[10]

At combat sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts, having a higher index is often beneficial. Fighters such as Jon Jones and Conor McGregor have a longer arm span than most of their opponents. This allows them to use their arm span to hit their opponents, where as their opponents could not hit them. They often use this in their game plan, by keeping their distance, allowing them to cover up(keeping their hands out towards their opponent) or use it to counter punch them.[11][12]

Small ape indices can also be beneficial. For instance, in the bench press, shorter arms mean that the weights do not have to be raised so high compared to someone with longer arms and a bigger index, so the smaller indexed lifter does less work. By contrast, long arms are a distinct advantage in performing the Deadlift, as they reduce the range of motion required to complete the lift.

Notes

  1. ^ McIver, Kelly (September 8, 1992). "Rock climb jargon often tough to scale". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 5D. Retrieved September 2, 2009. [dead link]
  2. ^ Pheasant 1996, p. 7.
  3. ^ Sagar 2001, p. 144.
  4. ^ Mermier et al. 2000, pp. 364–365.
  5. ^ Watts et al. 2003, p. 423.
  6. ^ Moss et al. 2001.
  7. ^ Magiera, Artur; Ryguła, Igor (2007). "Biometric Model and Classification Functions in Sport Climbing". Journal of Human Kinetics. 18: 96–97.
  8. ^ Lavoie & Montpetit 1986, p. 168.
  9. ^ https://www.scienceabc.com/sports/michael-phelps-height-arms-torso-arm-span-feet-swimming.html
  10. ^ a b David Epstein (29 April 2014). The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance. Penguin Publishing Group. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-1-61723-012-7.
  11. ^ "Print Fight Card | UFC 182 Jones vs. Cormier". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  12. ^ MindSmash (2017-01-23), Conor McGregor's Counter Punch | Breakdown, retrieved 2017-06-16

References

External links

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