Abstract
PurposeTo compare the effects of strength training versus ski-ergometer training on double-poling gross efficiency (GE), maximal speed (Vmax), peak oxygen uptake (dot{V}{text{O}}_{{ 2 {text{peak}}}}) for elite male and female junior cross-country skiers.MethodsThirty-three elite junior cross-country skiers completed a 6-week training-intervention period with two additional 40-min training sessions per week. The participants were matched in pairs and within each pair randomly assigned to either a strength-training group (STR) or a ski-ergometer-training group (ERG). Before and after the intervention, the participants completed three treadmill roller-skiing tests to determine GE, Vmax, and dot{V}{text{O}}_{{ 2 {text{peak}}}}. Mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to evaluate differences between and within groups. Paired samples t tests were used as post hoc tests to investigate within-group differences.ResultsBoth groups improved their Vmax and dot{V}{text{O}}_{{ 2 {text{peak}}}} expressed absolutely (all P < 0.01). For the gender-specific sub-groups, it was found that the female skiers in both groups improved both Vmax and dot{V}{text{O}}_{{ 2 {text{peak}}}} expressed absolutely (all P < 0.05), whereas the only within-group differences found for the men were improvements of Vmax in the STR group. No between-group differences were found for any of the investigated variables.ConclusionsPhysiological and performance-related variables of importance for skiers were improved for both training regimes. The results demonstrate that the female skiers’ physiological adaptations to training, in general, were greater than those of the men. The magnitude of the physiological adaptations was similar for both training regimes.
Highlights
IntroductionDouble-poling capacity of skiers has been increasing in importance
During the last decades, double-poling capacity of skiers has been increasing in importance
Both training groups increased their BM (STR: 69.0 ± 7.0–70.3 ± 7.6 kg, t = 2.70 and P = 0.018; ergometer-training group (ERG): 69.5 ± 8.6–70.6 ± 8.4 kg, t = 3.58 and P = 0.002) and mechanical work rate (MWR) (STR: 7.4 ± 1.9– 7.5 ± 1.9 kJ min−1, t = 3.73 and P = 0.002; ERG: 7.8 ± 1.6–8.0 ± 1.6 kJ min−1, t = 2.89 and P = 0.014), whereas no significant change was found for metabolic rate (MR) (STR: 46.8 ± 8.9–46.9 ± 9.2 kJ min−1, t = 0.07 and P = 0.946; ERG: 48.0 ± 9.0–47.6 ± 9.6 kJ min−1, t = −0.55 and P = 0.591) during the training intervention
Summary
Double-poling capacity of skiers has been increasing in importance. In sprint and long-distance races performed using the classical technique, it is common that elite skiers use skis without kick wax and rely solely on force generation from double poling. From an energy-supply perspective, it is important to be able to effectively use metabolic energy in the forcegenerating muscles in the upper body. This is supported by correlations between elite skiers’ performance capacity and peak oxygen uptake using the double-poling technique (V O2peak) (Carlsson et al 2012, 2014; Mahood et al 2001; Sandbakk et al 2016). Ski-specific upper-body power production, measured as maximal double-poling speed (Vmax), is of importance for performance in cross-country skiing (Andersson et al 2010; Carlsson et al 2016)
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