Abstract
This study compared the effects of adding upper-body sprint-intervals or continuous double poling endurance training to the normal training on maximal upper-body strength and endurance capacity in female cross-country skiers. In total, 17 female skiers (age: 18.1±0.8yr, body mass: 60±7 kg, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max): 3.30±0.37 L.min-1) performed an 8-week training intervention. Here, either two weekly sessions of six to eight 30-s maximal upper-body double poling sprint-intervals (SIG, n = 8) or 45–75 min of continuous low-to-moderate intensity double poling on roller skis (CG, n = 9) were added to their training. Before and after the intervention, the participants were tested for physiological and kinematical responses during submaximal and maximal diagonal and double poling treadmill roller skiing. Additionally, we measured maximal upper-body strength (1RM) and average power at 40% 1RM in a poling-specific strength exercise. SIG improved absolute VO2max in diagonal skiing more than CG (8% vs 2%, p<0.05), and showed a tendency towards higher body-mass normalized VO2max (7% vs 2%, p = 0.07). Both groups had an overall improvement in double poling peak oxygen uptake (10% vs 6% for SIG and CG) (both p<0.01), but no group-difference was observed. SIG improved 1RM strength more than CG (18% vs 10%, p<0.05), while there was a tendency for difference in average power at 40% 1RM (20% vs 14%, p = 0.06). Oxygen cost and kinematics (cycle length and rate) in double poling and diagonal remained unchanged in both groups. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that adding upper-body sprint-interval training is more effective than continuous endurance training in improving upper-body maximal strength and VO2max.
Highlights
Cross-country skiing involves upper, lower- or whole-body exercise in the different techniques employed in varying terrain
Since we aimed to examine the actual effects of upper body sprint-intervals and not the effect of added upper-body load, we added the load of the CG by increasing the amount of endurance training with an upper-body dominant mode (i.e, double poling (DP))
There were no differences between SIG and CG in the time spent in different exercise modalities of endurance training, with 28 and 32% roller ski classic, 23 and 20% roller ski skating, 44 and 46% running and the remainder (5 and 3%) done in other modes such as cycling and kayaking, respectively
Summary
Cross-country skiing involves upper-, lower- or whole-body exercise in the different techniques employed in varying terrain. It is one of the most demanding endurance sports, and elite cross-country skiers display some of the highest ever reported maximal oxygen uptake values (VO2max) [1,2,3]. As sex differences in cross-country skiers become more pronounced with increasing power contribution from the upper-body [17], women may have a large potential to improve their upper-body capacity and DP performance
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