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

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