Ski Training Research Articles

The Attitude of Sports Faculty Students related to a Skiing Internship

The aim of this study was to identify the perception after the participation to a skiing training course of sports faculty students (76 subjects). Using an online questionnaire, students’ present their opinions about this proposed curricular activity. Results suggest that an internship allows students to have a more realistic and practical exposure is a good personal experience with long-term (professional) impact helping them to identify their goals and skills of the future profession. University sports programs that facilitate an effective "on-site" practical experience can have multiple results for the students –specialists in training, sports curriculum programs should offer more options, partnerships and similar practical experiences.

Формирование двигательных действий у детей с расстройствами аутистического спектра на занятиях адаптивной физической культурой

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives. </strong>Ski training classes for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) help develop locomotor functions, develop physical qualities, strengthen health and compensate for the lack of motor activity. Adaptive physical education (APE) classes develop basic types of movements, including when moving on skis. Currently, in the practice of APE there are no methods that form motor actions in children with ASD by means of ski training. The author’s method of step-by-step formation of motor actions in ski training for children with ASD allows teaching the ability to move on skis in various ways.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods</strong>. The article presents the materials of an empirical study conducted in a group of 6 children with ASD aged 8—9 years. When teaching children motor skills in APE classes, the method of step-by-step formation of motor actions by means of ski training was used. Motor skills were assessed by the tests “Sliding step”, “Alternating two-step move”, “Simultaneous stepless move”. Diagnostics of the technique of performing ski moves was carried out by the method of expert assessment.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results</strong>. The sliding step was mastered most successfully by children: 83% (n=5) of children mastered the sliding step technique. The correct technique for performing a simultaneous stepless and alternating two-step walk was mastered by 67% of children (n=4). The number of children capable of covering the distance using the alternating two-step walk and simultaneous stepless walk techniques increased from 1 to 5.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions. </strong>The presented results confirm the possibility of children with ASD mastering certain methods of skiing using a step-by-step method of forming motor actions. Application at each stage of non-verbal techniques, teaching methods (for example, action by demonstration), form the technique of ski moves in children. The proposed method was implemented in a guideline for the step-by-step teaching of motor actions in ski training for children with ASD. In the future, it is planned to develop a guideline for teaching the techniques of turns, ascents, and descents in ski training for children with ASD.</p>

Gear Classification in Skating Cross-Country Skiing Using Inertial Sensors and Deep Learning.

The aim of this current work is to identify three different gears of cross-country skiing utilizing embedded inertial measurement units and a suitable deep learning model. The cross-country style studied was the skating style during the uphill, which involved three different gears: symmetric gear pushing with poles on both sides (G3) and two asymmetric gears pushing with poles on the right side (G2R) or to the left side (G2L). To monitor the technique, inertial measurement units (IMUs) were affixed to the skis, recording acceleration and Euler angle data during the uphill tests performed by two experienced skiers using the gears under study. The initiation and termination points of the tests were controlled via Bluetooth by a smartphone using a custom application developed with Android Studio. Data were collected on the smartphone and stored on the SD memory cards included in each IMU. Convolutional neural networks combined with long short-term memory were utilized to classify and extract spatio-temporal features. The performance of the model in cross-user evaluations demonstrated an overall accuracy of 90%, and it achieved an accuracy of 98% in the cross-scene evaluations for individual users. These results indicate a promising performance of the developed system in distinguishing between different ski gears within skating styles, providing a valuable tool to enhance ski training and analysis.

Specific Physical Training of Future Officers for Actions in Mountain Environments

Abstract The mountain environment implies a certain degree of difficulty even in peacetime, in civilian sector activities, even more so from a military point of view, especially in conducting operations in this environment. The varied terrain, sudden weather changes, oxygen depletion with increasing altitude and the lack of suitable travel lanes are just some of the challenges that future officer mountain hunters have to face and overcome. Preparation for this stage must start early with an emphasis on physical and mental endurance, the latter being a basic pillar for any military person, but even more so for a mountain hunter. Sustained physical effort in difficult terrain and exposure to bad weather combined with strong winds requires a trained psyche, ready to carry on even when the physique might give way. Endurance training also plays an important role and contributes to the ability of mountain hunters to traverse large areas of terrain in a relatively short time using weapon-specific methods and techniques. Being a mountain hunter puts a strain on your body and mind. One thing we can improve as mountain hunters is certainly the level of physical training specific to this weapon. Given the specificity of mountain hunter actions in terms of both ski and alpine training, training with a focus on the lower body is a starting point in the physical preparation needed to carry out actions in the mountain environment.

Исследование методик обучения и тренировок по беговым лыжам в Китае и России

This article aims to explore the research status and characteristics of cross-country skiing teaching and training technology in China and Russia, so as to promote technical exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in this field. First, through comparative analysis, a comparative study was conducted on the development history and characteristics of cross-country skiing projects in China and Russia, and it was found that there is a certain gap in teaching and training technology between the two countries. Secondly, through the method of literature and logical analysis, the commonalities and differences between China and Russia in cross-country skiing teaching and training technology were sorted out and summarized, and the challenges and problems faced were analyzed. Subsequently, strategies and measures for optimizing cross-country skiing teaching and training technology between China and Russia were proposed, including introducing advanced technology, strengthening the construction of the coaching team, and holding technical exchange seminars. Finally, he emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation in cross-country skiing projects between China and Russia and looked forward to future development trends. This research aims to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for technical exchanges and cooperation in the field of cross-country skiing between China and Russia, and to lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of cross-country skiing projects in both countries.

The Place of Playful Activities in Overcoming Fear in Teaching Downhill Skiing in the Opinions of Lower Secondary Education Teachers

Downhill skiing evokes many emotions. In more experienced skiers, they manifest themselves primarily in a positive form, in beginners often in a negative form, in the form of apprehension or fear, mainly due to an unfamiliar way of moving - sliding and moving on skis. In the school environment, we encounter these phenomena quite often on ski training courses. The aim of the paper was to find out through a survey among teachers of lower secondary education (n=105), the fear and apprehension of pupils during ski courses, as well as the use of playful activities during their teaching. We analysed the results from the aspect of intersex differences using the chi-square test on the significance level of p<0.05, resp. p<0.01. We carried out the survey itself from January to March 2023. The results of our study showed that after the completion of ski course, the fear and anxiety of primary school pupils showed a clear trend of decrease. The use of games as one of the forms of warming up, practicing and perfecting selected elements of methodological series of skiing, but also at the end of daily job, is significantly (p<0.01) used to a greater extent by women. During the entire duration of the course, teachers make the most use of movement games of traditional nature - chases, relays, etc. therefore, we recommend that when teaching downhill skiing, movement games with the use of non-traditional aids (skis, poles, etc.) are included to a greater extent, but also games that require the cooperation of pupils, the so-called cooperative games. The results of our study also pointed to the fact that, according to teachers, students' fear of skiing is dominantly caused by an unfamiliar way of moving, when students lose their balance, which they cannot control (p<0.01).

Patient-reported hip pain and function are worse among elite Nordic ski athletes competing in ski jumping versus Nordic combined: a cross-sectional analysis

ObjectivesNordic ski athletes are at increased risk of developing hip pain and dysfunction secondary to femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), but it is unclear whether hip symptomatology differs between ski jumping (SJ) and Nordic combined (NC) athletes. The purpose of this study was to compare patient-reported hip pain and dysfunction between elite Nordic ski athletes participating in SJ versus NC. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving SJ and NC athletes who competed at the international and U.S. national levels during the 2021–2022 season. Subjects were excluded if they had hip surgery within two years prior to enrollment. Subjects were asked to undergo diagnostic workups for FAIS, including physical examination and plain radiographic imaging. Subjects were asked to complete a survey that collected information on athletic and training history and to complete the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS). Demographics, athletic/training history, and HOOS sub-scores were compared between the SJ and NC groups using the Student's t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. ResultsTwenty-four athletes (13 SJ, 11 NC) were included in the study. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, BMI, or age of menarche between the two groups (all p ​> ​0.05). There were also no statistically significant differences in the number of prior sports participated in, total hours of participation in prior sports, or total hours of training in Nordic specialization (all p ​> ​0.05). Among the 18 athletes who underwent physical examination (9 SJ, 9 NC), there were no statistically significant inter-group differences in hip range of motion or incidence of positive impingement tests (all p ​> ​0.05). Among the 19 athletes who underwent imaging (9 SJ, 10 NC), there were no statistically significant inter-group differences in the incidence of cam or pincer morphology in at least one hip (all p ​> ​0.05). SJ athletes had statistically significantly worse HOOS sub-scores for hip symptoms and stiffness, hip function in sports/recreational activities, and hip-related quality of life compared to NC athletes (all p ​< ​0.05). ConclusionElite SJ athletes have worse self-reported hip function compared to elite NC athletes, despite comparable demographics, athletic history, and duration of ski training. Level of evidenceIV.

Annual Volume and Distribution of Physical Training in Norwegian Female Cross-Country Skiers and Biathletes: A Comparison Between Sports, Competition Levels, and Age Categories-The FENDURA Project.

To describe and compare the annual physical training characteristics between Norwegian female cross-country (XC) skiers and biathletes across competition levels and age categories. Daily training sessions for 1year were recorded for 45 XC skiers and 26 biathletes, comprising international/national team (inter[national]) and nonnational/regional team members (nonnational) of both junior and senior age. Endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, and power training sessions were recorded. Data included exercise modality, intensity, and duration. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. The total annual physical training volume consisted of ∼90% endurance training for both groups, although XC skiers had significantly higher total volumes (∼10%; P = .003; d = 0.78) than biathletes. Senior XC skiers performed more training hours of skiing and/or roller skiing compared with biathletes over the season. However, biathletes compensated for this lower volume by more skating and a higher proportion of endurance training as skiing (81% [17%]) compared with XC skiers (68% [16%]; P < .001; d = 0.94). Overall, (inter)national-level athletes completed a higher annual training volume than non-national-level athletes (740 [90]h vs 649 [95]h; P = .004;d = 0.81). Although juniors reported less endurance volume than seniors, they maintained a relatively stable level of endurance training across the preparatory and competition period, unlike senior athletes. The higher annual physical training volume by XC skiers compared with biathletes is likely caused by the different demands of the 2 sports; XC skiing necessitates training for 2 skiing styles, while biathlon requires additional shooting practice. However, biathletes compensate with a higher proportion of ski training, particularly in the skating technique.

Relationship between methods of monitoring training load and physiological indicators changes during 4 weeks cross-country skiing altitude training

This study aimed to: (i) analyze the load characteristics of 4 weeks cross-country skiing altitude training; (ii) analyze the relationships between methods of monitoring training load and physiological indicators changes of elite male Chinese cross-country skiers during this period. Practitioners collected load data during 4 weeks of altitude training camp. Participants performed maximal oxygen uptake, lactate threshold, body composition, and skierg power test before and after the training camp to investigate the changes in physiological performance. Edwards TRIMP, Lucia TRIMP, and session rating of perceived exertion were collected as internal load. Training distance, time recorded by the Catapult module were collected as external load. The result revealed a " pyramid " pattern in the load characteristics during the altitude training camp. The correlation between luTRIMP and percent change in physiological indicators was highest. Percentage changes in lactate threshold velocity (r = .78 [95% CI -.01 to .98]), percentage changes in lactate threshold HR (r = .71 [95% CI .14- .99]), percentage changes in maximum HR (r = .83 [95% CI .19–1.00]), percentage changes in skierg power-to-weight ratio (r = .75 [95% CI -.28 to .98]) had very large relationships with luTRIMP. In cross-country skiing altitude training, training loads should be reasonably controlled to ensure that athletes do not become overly fatigued. Methods of training load monitoring that combine with athletes’ physiological characteristics and program characteristics have the highest dose-response relationships, it is an important aspect of cross-country ski training load monitoring. The luTRIMP could be a good monitoring tool in cross-country skiing altitude training.

ANALYSIS OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SKIERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The article analyzes the peculiarities of building the training process of the Finnish training system and the training system of Ukrainian athletes. The analysis of the curriculum has shown that the Finnish system of training skiers is based on the creation of clubs, since this is the basic system of organizing the training process. A ski club is an attractive and stimulating environment for creating a solid foundation for a lifelong passion. The ski training system is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Finnish Olympic Committee. The curriculum for children's and youth sports schools in Ukraine is based on many years of experience of coaches and specialists in winter Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The training program for Ukrainian skiers is aimed at systematizing the training process from initial training groups to groups of higher sports skills, providing coaches with a unified planning structure, a system of means and methods of physical education. The curricula envisage adherence to the same principles of ski training. The methods and means of training differ between schools. The requirements stipulated in the training programs for skiers in both countries are mandatory for all clubs and youth sports schools and must be implemented in accordance with training locations, climatic conditions, material and technical facilities, etc.

P08.09.B EFFECTS OF A ONE-WEEK SKIING INTERVENTION ON LOWER LIMB MUSCLE STRENGTH IN BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

Abstract BACKGROUND Due to fatigue or feelings of insecurity, many brain tumor patients are not sufficiently active. Among other things, this puts patients at higher risk for sarcopenia predicting overall survival. Exercise interventions of various kinds could effectively counteract this problem. Here, we aim to present the impact of a one-week skiing intervention on leg muscle strength in brain tumor patients and their caregivers as well as feasibility and safety of the intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ten brain tumor patients and their families participated in this one-week skiing intervention in a self-catering lodge at 1400m altitude. Daily 4-hour ski sessions (including approx. 1 hour rest) with professional ski instructors were performed in small groups (≤5 participants) divided by proficiency level. Participants could choose between downhill and cross-country skiing. Adverse events were noted daily. Muscle strength was determined 3-10 days pre- and postintervention on 5 different gym machines (knee extension, knee flexion, adductors, abductors, leg press) using Brzycki's equation. RESULTS 20 adults (10 patients, 10 caregivers) and 7 children participated in the ski-based intervention. All patients were surgically treated at least once and received chemo- and/or radiotherapy (ongoing chemotherapy in 6 patients). No severe adverse events were recorded throughout the week. 15 adults (9 patients, 56% female; 6 caregivers, 67% female) aged 21-69 years (mean 50 years) completed the muscle strength tests. Of those, most patients suffered from grade 4 brain tumors (67%), followed by grade 2 (22%) and grade 1 (11 %) tumors. Mean muscle strength increased in all muscle groups tested (knee extension +13.5%, p=.024, CI 95%: -0.5 - 29.1; knee flexion +7.1%, p=.048 CI 95%: -1.0 - 14.0; adductors +6.6%, p=.039, CI 95%: 1.3 - 13.4; abductors 20.0%, p=.004, CI 95%: 6.9 - 35.7; leg press +19.5%, p=.050, CI 95%: -5.6 - 44.6). Tumor grade, gender, type of ski intervention, and age did not affect the RESULTS . CONCLUSION During one week of intensive ski training, positive effects on leg muscle strength could be shown in both brain tumor patients and their families regardless of age, gender, downhill/cross-country ski, or WHO grading. Furthermore, this study demonstrates feasibility and safety of ski-based exercises in this patient population. Interventions such as these could help patients overcome (gait) insecurities and motivate them to become more physically active in their daily lives. In the longer term, this may lead to better management of everyday life and improved quality of life.

Intervensi yang Mendukung Kualitas Hidup Penyintas Tumor Otak

This study aims to examine interventions that have an impact on the quality of life of brain tumor survivors based on the results of previous studies. Methods: This study is a literature review. Article search through Science Direct and Pubmed and Google Scholar databases. The search keywords are: brain tumor, QOL, RCT, Intervention. The Boolean logic used is "AND" and "OR". The search also activates special filters such as: article type: research article, access type: open access &amp; open archive, and text availability: free full text. Results: 5 articles that passed the selection were reviewed. Based on the articles reviewed, this study found that various interventions had a positive impact on the quality of life of brain tumor survivors. The interventions are in the form of yoga, health promotion based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and peer support (The Ohana Project), high-quality nursing, pilates-based group therapy, and ski training. Conclusion: based on the findings of this study, interventions that have a positive impact on the quality of life of brain tumor survivors need to be improved. Future studies may use a larger sample to corroborate the findings.&#x0D; Keywords: intervention; quality of life; brain tumor.

Design and feasibility study of a HCPS framework-based VR alpine skiing decision-making training system

Alpine skiing beginners are easily injured if they fail make the right decisions when faced with unexpected situations. Excellent decision-making requires extensive training, while alpine skiing training is limited by time and space. To address these issues, this paper combines VR and machine learning techniques to develop a high fidelity VR skiing decision-making training system based on HCPS framework. The aim is to train beginner skiers in decision-making by creating automated and repeatable virtual scenarios. Firstly, physical world (ski resort environment, and user motions) was mapped into the VR world using the HCPS framework. Afterwards, the user’s decision motions were made based on the scenarios provided, while being identified through an improved SVM (94.5% accuracy). The motion recognition results were fed into the expert system to assess the feasibility of the decision-making. Finally, the feasibility of the system was assessed with a combination of subjective and objective approaches. The results showed that the VR system significantly improved the participants’ skiing decision-making ability and speed compared to traditional 2D video training. The high fidelity environment reduced participants’ motion sickness symptoms and resulted in a better sensory experience. In addition, participants were more focused in the high fidelity environment. Overall, these results demonstrated the construct validity of the virtual ski decision-making training system. This study changes the traditional training method to create an immersive training environment, and provides an effective avenue for the development of sports training.

ERZURUM PALANDÖKEN KAYAK MERKEZİ KAYAK YARALANMALARININ ORTOPEDİK AÇIDAN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Aim: To determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who presented to our emergency department with orthopedic injuries due to winter sports.&#x0D; Material and Method: This study was retrospectively conducted in the winter seasons between 2018 and 2020. The patients’ age, gender, orthopedic injury localization, treatment applied for the injury, and injury patterns were examined. The findings obtained were statistically analyzed.&#x0D; Results: In this study, a total of 881 patients, 311 (35.4%) female and 570 (64.6%) male, were evaluated. According to orthopedic localization, most patients (n=255, 28.6%) had knee injuries. Soft tissue trauma was detected in 519 (58.9%) of the patients. The knee injuries did not significantly differ according to gender (p=0.852).&#x0D; Conclusion: During winter sports, injuries occur mostly in the lower extremity and knee area. Injuries related to winter sports can be reduced with the use of appropriate winter sports equipment and ski training.

Addressing the unresolved challenge of quantifying skiing exposure-A proof of concept using smartphone sensors.

In epidemiological studies related to winter sports, especially alpine skiing, an unresolved methodological challenge is the quantification of actual on-snow activity exposure. Such information would be relevant for reporting meaningful measures of injury incidence, which refers to the number of new injuries that occur in a given population and time period. Accordingly, accurate determination of the denominator, i.e., actual "activity exposure time", is critical for injury surveillance and reporting. In this perspective article, we explore the question of whether wearable sensors in combination with mHealth applications are suitable tools to accurately quantify the periods in a ski day when the skier is physically skiing and not resting or using a mechanical means of transport. As a first proof of concept, we present exemplary data from a youth competitive alpine skier who wore his smartphone with embedded sensors on his body on several ski days during one winter season. We compared these data to self-reported estimates of ski exposure, as used in athletes' training diaries. In summary, quantifying on-snow activity exposure in alpine skiing using sensor data from smartphones is technically feasible. For example, the sensors could be used to track ski training sessions, estimate the actual time spent skiing, and even quantify the number of runs and turns made as long as the smartphone is worn. Such data could be very useful in determining actual exposure time in the context of injury surveillance and could prove valuable for effective stress management and injury prevention in athletes.

Optically Non-Contact Cross-Country Skiing Action Recognition Based on Key-Point Collaborative Estimation and Motion Feature Extraction.

Technical motion recognition in cross-country skiing can effectively help athletes to improve their skiing movements and optimize their skiing strategies. The non-contact acquisition method of the visual sensor has a bright future in ski training. The changing posture of the athletes, the environment of the ski resort, and the limited field of view have posed great challenges for motion recognition. To improve the applicability of monocular optical sensor-based motion recognition in skiing, we propose a monocular posture detection method based on cooperative detection and feature extraction. Our method uses four feature layers of different sizes to simultaneously detect human posture and key points and takes the position deviation loss and rotation compensation loss of key points as the loss function to implement the three-dimensional estimation of key points. Then, according to the typical characteristics of cross-country skiing movement stages and major sub-movements, the key points are divided and the features are extracted to implement the ski movement recognition. The experimental results show that our method is 90% accurate for cross-country skiing movements, which is equivalent to the recognition method based on wearable sensors. Therefore, our algorithm has application value in the scientific training of cross-country skiing.

LESÃO ESPORTIVA DA ARTICULAÇÃO DO JOELHO EM TREINO DE ESQUI E SUA PREVENÇÃO

ABSTRACT Introduction Ski training presents the high ability of athletes and strong demand on the physical conditioning of the knee joint, which is frequently injured. Objective Study the sports injuries of the knee joint in ski training and explore its preventive measures. Methods The interview method was used with ski instructors, enthusiasts, and athletes by questionnaire with design and distribution of topics related to the occurrence of injuries. Sport injury factors are discussed internally and externally. Preventive measures and protective equipment for knee sports injuries are presented. Results Currently, the proportion of serious sports injuries to the knee joint is relatively high, and problems such as collision are the most common injury factors, and differences exist between male and female athletes. Among the causes of injury, the highest-scoring technical factor for injury was “deviation from technical movements”, and the highest-scoring preventive measures were “strength training for vulnerable parts” and “sufficient preparation for activities”. Conclusion The instructors should provide effective training programs according to the actual situation of the athletes, pay attention to monitoring the skiing environment, and recommend the appropriate protective equipment for the sport. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

ANALYSIS OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SKIERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The article analyzes the peculiarities of building the training process of the Finnish training system and the training system of Ukrainian athletes. The analysis of the curriculum has shown that the Finnish system of training skiers is based on the creation of clubs, since this is the basic system of organizing the training process. A ski club is an attractive and stimulating environment for creating a solid foundation for a lifelong passion. The ski training system is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Finnish Olympic Committee. The curriculum for children's and youth sports schools in Ukraine is based on many years of experience of coaches and specialists in winter Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The training program for Ukrainian skiers is aimed at systematizing the training process from initial training groups to groups of higher sports skills, providing coaches with a unified planning structure, a system of means and methods of physical education. The curricula envisage adherence to the same principles of ski training. The methods and means of training differ between schools. The requirements stipulated in the training programs for skiers in both countries are mandatory for all clubs and youth sports schools and must be implemented in accordance with training locations, climatic conditions, material and technical facilities, etc.

AS DIFERENÇAS ENTRE OS MODOS MODERNOS DE TREINAMENTO DE BIATLO NOS JOGOS OLÍMPICOS DE INVERNO

ABSTRACT Introduction The biathlon is a snow sport that combines cross-country skiing and shooting, originating in Scandinavia. It requires athletes to not only have the ability to glide quickly over long distances but also to have the ability to shoot quickly and accurately. There is little research on biathlon characteristics and analysis of influencing factors and training strategies in China. Objective This study analyzes modern biathlon athletes’ specific explosive power, endurance and training effects at the Winter Olympics. Methods Twenty biathlon athletes were selected as research volunteers. Physiological and biochemical indicators of the athletes were experimentally tested after training. Results There was a correlation between maximum speed and the height of the athletes’ double stand test (SD) (p &lt; 0.05). The heavier athletes skied relatively faster. However, the excessive body fat rate is not conducive to maintaining high-intensity skiing in the long term. The athletes’ VO2max was closely related to their skiing performance and shot hit percentage (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion Maintaining gun ski training can positively improve the competitive level of world-class biathletes. The athlete's muscles have a solid ability to generate high mechanical power in a short time. It is beneficial to take advantage of a favorable position after the start of the competition. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Kinematical effects of rifle carriage on roller skiing in well-trained female and male biathletes.

This study aimed to investigate how rifle carriage and skiing speed during biathlon roller skiing affect range of motion (ROM) in joint angles and equipment (skis and poles), the vertical distance between shoulders and treadmill (vertdist ), as well as possible sex differences associated with rifle carriage. Fourteen biathletes (6 women, 8 men) roller-skied on a treadmill at submaximal and simulated race speeds, with (WR) and without (NR) a rifle, using gears 3 and 2. Kinematical data for the whole body, poles, roller-skis, rifle, and treadmill were monitored using a 3D motion capture system. Movements determined as flexion/extension (x), abduction/adduction (y), and/or internal/external rotation (z) were analyzed for the hip, shoulder, thorax, knee, ankle, elbow, poles, and roller skis. ROM (the difference between maximal and minimal angles) in joints and equipment, and vertdist were analyzed over six skiing cycles during each condition (WR and NR) and speed. The maximal vertdist was lower for WR compared with NR (gear 3: 1.53 ± 0.06 vs 1.54 ± 0.06 m; gear 2: 1.49 ± 0.06 vs 1.51 ± 0.06 m; both p < 0.001). ROM in the upper body was altered when roller skiing WR (movements decreased in thorax and shoulder (x) and increased in elbow (only gear 3) (x), thorax (only gear 2), and shoulder (y) and (z); all p < 0.05) and increased with speed, without differences between sexes (p > 0.05). Since rifle carriage and speed appear to affect the kinematics of roller skiing, coaches, and biathletes are advised to perform skiing technique training under competition-like conditions (i.e., at race speeds while carrying the rifle).