Anaerobic capacity of upper and lower limbs muscles in combat sports contestants

Abstract

Summary Introduction. The aim of the present research study was to compare the evaluation of peak anaerobic power generated by the lower and upper limbs muscles in wrestlers and boxers from the Polish national team, based on maximum and average power obtained in the Wingate test. Material and methods. Classical style wrestlers (n=30) and boxers (n=34), representatives of the Polish national team in these sports, took part in the study. All experimental subjects performed 30-seconds Wingate test for the lower limbs and then upper limbs. The load was individually selected in proportion to the body weight and was 0.075 kp/kg for the lower limbs test and 0.055 kp/kg for the upper limbs test. During the two tests, maximum power (Pmax) and mean power (Pmean) were recorded and expressed in relative terms (per unit body weight or kg of FFM). Blood samples were taken from the ear lobe after each test, for determination of lactate concentration (LA). Results. Maximum power and average power of the lower and upper limbs muscles, per kg of body mass (BM), was statistically significantly higher in wrestlers when compared with the boxers. Calculation of maximum and average power registered by the experimental contestants in both power tests per kg of FFM confirmed existence of differences between the anaerobic capaci ty of the lower and upper limbs muscles of wrestlers and boxers. Lactate threshold level (LApeak), upon completion of power tests was similar, regardless of the sport and the type of test. Conclusions. In summary, from the obtained data it can be concluded that wrestlers, compared with boxers, are characte rized by higher relative maximum power and relative average power (W/kg BW) generated by both the upper and lower limbs in the Wingate test. These differences remained after conversion of maximum and average power into kg of Fat Free Mass (W/kg FFM), despite significant difference in body fat in athletes of these two sports. The highest concentration of lactate in the blood after both power tests in wrestlers and boxers was similar, which indicates that the upper limb muscles produce more lactate per unit of work done during maximum power.