Exercise Performance: Its Relationship with Morphological and Functional Characteristics in Two Ethnic Groups of Yakutia

Abstract

Morphological and functional criteria permitting the prediction of exercise performance were identified for two ethnic groups of Yakutia (Sakha). Yakuts with a low body height, normotonic autonomic nervous regulation, a relatively high weight-height index, eukinetic blood circulation, and a high specific exercise performance are best adapted to the environment. A high exercise performance in sympathicotonic subgroups cannot be a criterion of good adaptation because it is accompanied by cardiovascular strain even at rest. A high prevalence of sympathicotonia and body weight deficit in the ethnic groups studied reflect maladaptations caused by a set of adverse natural and social environmental factors.