Author(s): ABDELNOUR, M., ABOU OMAR, T., BERTIN, D., FARES, E.J., Institution: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT, Country: LEBANON, Abstract-ID: 869

INTRODUCTION:
Phase angle (PhA), derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis, is increasingly used in sport science as a non-invasive marker of cellular integrity and muscle quality. Whole-body PhA has been associated with strength and performance outcomes; however, less is known about the relationship between segmental PhA measures and functional muscle strength, particularly when examined separately in male and female athletes. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between whole-body and arm PhA and handgrip strength (HGS) in university varsity athletes.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the American University of Beirut (IRB ID: SBS-2025-0247). One hundred healthy university varsity athletes (50 males, 50 females) underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess whole-body and arm PhA, and maximal handgrip strength testing using a calibrated dynamometer. Analyses were performed separately for males and females. Participants were further classified into low and high whole-body standardized PhA (sPhA) groups using sex-specific median splits. Pearson correlations and independent samples t-tests were used to assess associations between whole-body and arm PhA and HGS, and to compare outcomes between low- and high-PhA groups within each sex.
RESULTS:
In both males and females, whole-body and arm PhA were significantly associated with handgrip strength, with moderate associations for whole-body PhA and very strong associations for arm PhA. Male athletes with higher whole-body PhA demonstrated greater HGS compared with those in the low-PhA group (43.3 ± 7.9 vs. 38.1 ± 7.2 kg; p = 0.016, r = 0.32), alongside higher arm PhA (6.60 ± 0.42° vs. 5.64 ± 0.34°; p < 0.001, r = 0.94). Similarly, female athletes classified in the high-PhA group exhibited greater HGS (25.4 ± 4.6 vs. 21.5 ± 5.1 kg; p = 0.012, r = 0.34) and higher arm PhA (5.03 ± 0.32° vs. 4.38 ± 0.32°; p < 0.001, r = 0.90). This ongoing research will include different sport teams to assess inter-sport differences across the season and the associations between HGS and other segmental measures.
CONCLUSION:
Both whole-body and arm-specific phase angle are positively associated with handgrip strength in university varsity athletes, in males and females alike. These findings support the use of phase angle, whether assessed at the whole-body or segmental level, as a practical, non-invasive indicator of muscle strength and functional capacity in applied sport science settings.