Aerobic Capacity Characteristic of Lithuanian Endurance Sports Athletes

Abstract

Aerobic capacity indices of the athletes, practicing aerobic endurance sports, are rather high. Athletes, practicing aerobic endurance sports, are able to demonstrate great maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and ability to keep it for a long time. Scientific evidence proves a close correlation between VO2max and sport results in endurance sports, as well as between VO2max and aerobic reactions. Thus, VO2max serves as a direct and complex index to reflect maximal possibilities of blood respiratory systems functional capacities and muscles ability to use it. VO2max is under influence by many factors: maximal lungs ventilation, blood composition, values of hemoglobin and iron in blood, elasticity of blood vessels, capillary density of skeletal muscles, number of mitochondria in muscles and their activeness, as well as amount of oxidation ferments and their activeness. Dynamics of VO2max is determined by genetic factors and the content of training session. Establishment of individual VO2max values is important in investigation process of athletes due to information it provides on the level of aerobic capacity and endurance. Overview of literature sources highlights a rather wide scientific concern on aerobic capacity exploration in various endurance sports athletes. Nevertheless, research data on athletes’ aerobic capacity longitudinal investigation, as well as on VO2max change in Lithuanian athletes during the last 25 years are lacking. The aim of the research was to summarize the level of maximal oxygen consumption, which serves as the main index of aerobic capacity for Lithuanian elite endurance sports athletes, and to compare it with characteristic to different sports model indices, provided in literature sources. 22 male and 14 female road cyclists, 20 male and 9 female skiers, 17 male and 11 female rowers, 15 male and 8 female biathlon athletes, 14 male kayak and canoe rowers, 8 male pentathlon athletes, 9 male racewalkers and 2 male swimmers participated in the research. Indices of the athletes’ height and weight were recorded. Aerobic capacity of the athletes used to be established by gas analyzer Oxycon Mobile (Germany). Mathematical statistics was applied for data processing. Arithmetical mean, standard deviation and mean error were calculated. VO2max determines ability of an athlete to maintain speed and to perform great aerobic work. Degree of VO2max increase during training session depends on personal training condition level, as well as on intensity and duration of exercises. According to the data of our longitudinal researches, the greatest correspondence to elite athletes’ VO2max model characteristics, among the other endurance sports representatives, is demonstrated by Lithuanian male modern pentathlon athletes, female cyclists (including four World champions), and female rowers. Close approach to model characteristics in charge was demonstrated by male cyclists and kayak rowers, while skiers, biathlon athletes, long and short distance runners were the furthest from model VO2max level. Overview of the results, demonstrated by the most capacious Lithuanian endurance sports athletes, shows that maximal oxygen consumption of the athletes – numerous Olympic Games, World and European Championships and other international events winners – is great and matches the requirements for elite athletes. Keywords: aerobic endurance, athletes, maximal oxygen consumption. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15823/sm.2016.21