Appendicular Lean Mass Index Compared with Normative Values in Male Collegiate Rugby Athletes

Authors

Hayden Johnson, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Dalton Prye, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Jade Simon, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Christian Rivera, Sam Houston Station UniversityFollow
Stephanie Hansford, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Regan Renfro, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Matthew Poole, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Saheed Jaiyeola, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Sage A. Newman, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Adesiji Adetona, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Oscar Woodside, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Jmya Hughes, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Preston James, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Kelly Hines, University at BuffaloFollow
Drew E. Gonzalez, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Christopher D. GreenleafFollow
Micheil Spillane, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Low appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) is used to characterize skeletal muscle status, yet normative comparisons for strength-trained athletes remain limited. PURPOSE: To describe appendicular lean mass (ALM) and ALMI in male collegiate rugby union athletes, compare values by position group, and contextualize against published reference and international rugby union norms. METHODS: Twenty-one male collegiate rugby union athletes (age 21.7 ± 2.2 y; 177.7 ± 8.8 cm; 91.7 ± 23.4 kg) completed whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic Horizon W; APEX v5.6) between 0600–0900 h, fasted and post-void, after 24 h exercise abstinence; hydration was assessed via urine specific gravity prior to DXA. Standard tissue analysis was used; daily phantom QC was within tolerance. ALM was calculated as the sum of bilateral arm and leg lean soft tissue; ALMI = ALM/height^2. Position group was classified as forwards (n=15) or backs (n=6). One-sample and independent t-tests evaluated comparisons (α=0.05). RESULTS: Mean ALM was 33.2 ± 6.4 kg and ALMI was 10.46 ± 1.51 kg/m^2. ALMI exceeded a published young adult male reference mean (8.6 kg/m^2) in 20/21 athletes (p<0.001). Forwards had greater ALM (35.7 ± 5.6 vs 27.0 ± 2.8 kg; p<0.001) and ALMI (11.00 ± 1.40 vs 9.13 ± 0.75 kg/m^2; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared with published international rugby union positional values (Australian internationals: ALM 45.3 kg forwards; 38.5 kg backs), collegiate forwards and backs exhibited ~21% and ~30% lower ALM, respectively, despite ALMI exceeding general adult reference values. Sport-specific reference ranges may improve interpretation of ALMI in strength/power athletes.

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Hayden; Prye, Dalton; Simon, Jade; Rivera, Christian; Hansford, Stephanie; Renfro, Regan; Poole, Matthew; Jaiyeola, Saheed; Newman, Sage A.; Adetona, Adesiji; Woodside, Oscar; Hughes, Jmya; James, Preston; Hines, Kelly; Gonzalez, Drew E.; Greenleaf, Christopher D.; and Spillane, Micheil (2026) "Appendicular Lean Mass Index Compared with Normative Values in Male Collegiate Rugby Athletes," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 227.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/227