A Comparative Study of Somatotypes (Mesomorph and Endomorph) on Physical Strength Performance in Men

The distribution of fat and muscle plays a crucial role in motor performance. While individuals with a mesomorphic body type (muscular) exhibit faster neuromuscular response, which enhances the effectiveness of explosive exercises, those with an endomorphic body type (muscular-fat) demonstrate greater endurance capacity.This study aimed to:• Investigate the relationship between somatotypes (mesomorph and endomorph) and physical strength performance in men.In light of this aim, the researchers proposed the following hypothesis:• There is a statistically significant relationship between somatotypes (mesomorph and endomorph) and physical strength performance.The researchers adopted the descriptive correlational method as appropriate for the nature of this study. The experiment was conducted on a sample of 12 advanced-level male powerlifting athletes from Duhok Governorate, divided into two groups (somatotypes), each consisting of 6 players, selected purposefully based on fat and muscle indices. The experiment involved three physical strength tests performed sequentially:(Bench Press, Squat ,Deadlift)Statistical tools used included mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, skewness, Pearson correlation coefficient, and t-test.The researchers arrived at the following conclusions:1. No statistically significant differences were found between the mesomorphic and endomorphic groups in isolated exercises (e.g., bench press), indicating that increased muscle mass does not significantly affect the performance of exercises relying on neuromuscular efficiency and the balance of small muscle groups.2. Significant differences were observed in favor of the endomorphic group in compound exercises , confirming that compound, absolute-strength-based movements depend more heavily on total muscle mass and the ability to generate muscular torque.