scholarly journals Anaerobic and aerobic performance of elite female and male snowboarders

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Żebrowska ◽  
Dorota Żyła ◽  
Damian Kania ◽  
Józef Langfort

AbstractThe physiological adaptation to training is specific to the muscle activity, dominant energy system involved,muscle groups trained, as well as intensity and volume of training. Despite increasing popularity of snowboarding onlylittle scientific data is available on the physiological characteristics of female and male competitive snowboarders.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the aerobic capacity and maximal anaerobic power of elite Polishsnowboarders with untrained subjects. Ten snowboarders and ten aged matched students of Physical Educationperformed two exercise tests. First, a 30-second Wingate test was conducted and next, a cycle ergometer exercise testwith graded intensity. In the first test, peak anaerobic power, the total work, relative peak power and relative meanpower were measured. During the second test, relative maximal oxygen uptake and lactate threshold were evaluated.There were no significant differences in absolute and relative maximal oxygen uptake between snowboarders and thecontrol group. Mean maximal oxygen uptake and lactate threshold were significantly higher in men than in women.Significant differences were found between trained men and women regarding maximal power and relative maximalpower. The elite snowboarders demonstrated a high level of anaerobic power. The level of relative peak power in trainedwomen correlated negatively with maximal oxygen uptake. In conclusion, our results seem to indicate that thedemanding competition program of elite snowboarders provides a significant training stimulus mainly for anaerobicpower with minor changes in anaerobic performance.

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darrell L. Bonetti ◽  
Will G. Hopkins ◽  
Andrew E. Kilding

Context:Live-high train-low altitude training produces worthwhile gains in performance for endurance athletes, but the benefits of adaptation to various forms of artificial altitude are less clear.Purpose:To quantify the effects of intermittent hypoxic exposure on kayak performance.Methods:In a crossover design with a 6-week washout, we randomized 10 subelite male sprint kayak paddlers to hypoxia or control groups for 3 weeks (5 days/week) of intermittent hypoxic exposure using a nitrogen-filtration device. Each day's exposure consisted of alternately breathing hypoxic and ambient air for 5 minutes each over 1 hour. Performance tests were an incremental step test to estimate peak power, maximal oxygen uptake, exercise economy, and lactate threshold; a 500-m time trial; and 5 × 100-m sprints. All tests were performed on a wind-braked kayak ergometer 7 and 3 days pretreatment and 3 and 10 days post treatment. Hemoglobin concentration was measured at 1 day pretreatment, 5 and 10 days during treatment, and 3 days after treatment.Results:Relative to control, at 3 days post treatment the hypoxia group showed the following increases: peak power 6.8% (90% confidence limits, ± 5.2%), mean repeat sprint power 8.3% (± 6.7%), and hemoglobin concentration 3.6% (± 3.2%). Changes in lactate threshold, mean 500-m power, maximal oxygen uptake, and exercise economy were unclear. Large effects for peak power and mean sprint speed were still present 10 days posthypoxia.Conclusion:These effects of intermittent hypoxic exposure should enhance performance in kayak racing. The effects might be mediated via changes in oxygen transport.


2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien V. Brugniaux ◽  
Laurent Schmitt ◽  
Paul Robach ◽  
Gérard Nicolet ◽  
Jean-Pierre Fouillot ◽  
...  

The efficiency of “living high, training low” (LHTL) remains controversial, despite its wide utilization. This study aimed to verify whether maximal and/or submaximal aerobic performance were modified by LHTL and whether these effects persist for 15 days after returning to normoxia. Last, we tried to elucidate whether the mechanisms involved were only related to changes in oxygen-carrying capacity. Eleven elite middle-distance runners were tested before (Pre), at the end (Post1), and 15 days after the end (Post2) of an 18-day LHTL session. Hypoxic group (LHTL, n = 5) spent 14 h/day in hypoxia (6 nights at 2,500 m and 12 nights at 3,000 m), whereas the control group (CON, n = 6) slept in normoxia (1,200 m). Both LHTL and CON trained at 1,200 m. Maximal oxygen uptake and maximal aerobic power were improved at Post1 and Post2 for LHTL only (+7.1 and +3.4% for maximal oxygen uptake, +8.4 and +4.7% for maximal aerobic power, respectively). Similarly oxygen uptake and ventilation at ventilatory threshold increased in LHTL only (+18.1 and +12.2% at Post1, +15.9 and +15.4% at Post2, respectively). Heart rate during a 10-min run at 19.5 km/h decreased for LHTL at Post2 (−4.4%). Despite the stimulation of erythropoiesis in LHTL shown by the 27.4% increase in serum transferrin receptor and the 10.1% increase in total hemoglobin mass, red cell volume was not significantly increased at Post1 (+9.2%, not significant). Therefore, both maximal and submaximal aerobic performance in elite runners were increased by LHTL mainly linked to an improvement in oxygen transport in early return to normoxia and probably to other process at Post2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-266
Author(s):  
Selcen Korkmaz Eryılmaz ◽  
Metin Polat

Background and Study Aim. The respiratory exchange ratio (RER) is the ratio of the amount of carbon dioxide produced (VCO2) to the amount of oxygen uptake (VO2) is important. It indirectly informs about the predominant metabolic pathway to provide the energy needed during exercise. The relationship of maximal RER with aerobic and anaerobic capacity in athletes remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between maximal RER and anaerobic power and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in anaerobic trained athletes. Material and Methods. Thirteen male alpine skiers (age 18.1 ± 3.1 years) competing in national and international competitions participated in the study. Athletes first performed an incremental treadmill run test to determine their VO2max (ml/kg/min), maximal RER (VCO2 / VO2) and maximal running speed (km/h). After 48 hours, the athletes performed the Wingate anaerobic test to determine peak power, mean power, minimum power, and fatigue index. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the relations between variables. Results. Maximal RER was positively correlated with peak power (r = 0.587, p < 0.035), mean power (r = 0.656, p < 0.015) and minimum power (r = 0.674, p < 0.012). Maximal RER did not significantly correlate with fatigue index (p > 0.05). Maximal RER was negatively correlated with the VO2max (r = – 0.705, p < 0.007) and maximal running speed (r = – 0.687, p < 0.01). Conclusions. Maximal RER may be useful for evaluating anaerobic capacity in anaerobic-trained athletes. Measuring the maximal RER values of athletes during incremental exercise may provide information about physiological adaptations in response to physical training.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1146-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Thomas ◽  
D. A. Cunningham ◽  
M. J. Plyley ◽  
D. R. Boughner ◽  
R. A. Cook

The role of central and peripheral adaptations in the response to endurance training was examined. Changes in cardiac structure and function, oxygen extraction, and muscle enzyme activities following one-leg training were studied.Eleven subjects (eight females, three males) trained on a cycle ergometer 4 weeks with one leg (leg 1), then 4 weeks with the second leg (leg 2). Cardiovascular responses to exercise with both legs and each leg separately were evaluated at entry (T1), after 4 weeks of training (T2), and after a second 4 weeks of training (T3). Peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text] peak) during exercise with leg 1 (T1 to T2 increased 19.8% (P < 0.05) and during exercise with leg 2 (T2 to T3 increased 16.9% (P < 0.05). Maximal oxygen uptake with both legs increased 7.9% from T1 to T2 and 9.4% from T2 to T3 (P < 0.05). During exercise at 60% of [Formula: see text] peak, cardiac output [Formula: see text] was increased significantly only when the trained leg was exercised. [Formula: see text] increased 12.2% for leg 1 between T1 and T2 and 13.0% for leg 2 between T2 and T3 (P < 0.05). M-mode echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular internal diameter at diastole and peak velocity of circumferential fibre shortening at rest or during supine cycle ergometer exercise at T1 and T3 revealed no training induced changes in cardiac dimensions or function. Enzyme analysis of muscle biopsy samples from the vastus lateralis (At T1, T2, T3) revealed no consistent pattern of change in aerobic (malate dehydrogenase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) or anaerobic (phosphofructokinase, lactate dehydroginase, and creatine kinase) enzyme activities. Increases in cardiac output and maximal oxygen uptake which result from short duration endurance training can be achieved, therefore, without measurable central cardiac adaptation. The absence of echocardio-graphically determined changes in cardiac dimensions and contractility and the absence of an increase in cardiac output during exercise with the nontrained leg following training of the contralateral limb support this conclusion.


Sports ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Per-Øyvind Torvik ◽  
Roland van den Tillaar ◽  
Gaute Iversen

The aim of this study was to investigate if the order of submaximal lactate threshold and maximal oxygen uptake testing would influence test outcomes. Twelve well-trained male cross-country skiers (mean age 19.6 years) performed two test sessions within a week in a within-subjects repeated measures with cross-over design study. A maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max) followed by a lactate threshold (LT) test and vice versa, were performed. The test data included VO2, blood lactate (La-b), heart rate (HR), performance speed, Borg scale (RPE) at all stages and lactate accumulation throughout the whole test protocol including the breaks. No significant effect of testing order was found for: VO2max (74.23 vs. 73.91 mL∙min−1∙kg−1), maximal HR (190.7 vs. 189.9 bpm) and speed at LT during uphill running. Three out of four common definitions of LT resulted in the same La-b at the last two steps, 11 and 12 km/h respectively, in the two protocols. It is worth noting that VO2, HR and La-b were higher in the first two stages of the LT test when VO2max was tested first in the protocol. Well-trained cross-country skiers conclusively attained a similar VO2max and LT in both protocols, and the two tests did not seem to influence each other in terms of the degree of exhaustion that occurs in a single VO2max or an incremental LT test. However, when using a curvilinear function to define the LT, it is important to know that the VO2max test can influence levels of VO2, HR and La-b at the first two stages of the LT test.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 864-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip M. Bellinger ◽  
Clare L. Minahan

The present study investigated the effects of β-alanine supplementation on the resultant blood acidosis, lactate accumulation, and energy provision during supramaximal-intensity cycling, as well as the aerobic and anaerobic contribution to power output during a 4000-m cycling time trial (TT). Seventeen trained cyclists (maximal oxygen uptake = 4.47 ± 0.55 L·min−1) were administered 6.4 g of β-alanine (n = 9) or placebo (n = 8) daily for 4 weeks. Participants performed a supramaximal cycling test to exhaustion (equivalent to 120% maximal oxygen uptake) before (PreExh) and after (PostExh) the 4-week supplementation period, as well as an additional postsupplementation supramaximal cycling test identical in duration and power output to PreExh (PostMatch). Anaerobic capacity was quantified and blood pH, lactate, and bicarbonate concentrations were measured pre-, immediately post-, and 5 min postexercise. Subjects also performed a 4000-m cycling TT before and after supplementation while the aerobic and anaerobic contributions to power output were quantified. β-Alanine supplementation increased time to exhaustion (+12.8 ± 8.2 s; P = 0.041) and anaerobic capacity (+1.1 ± 0.7 kJ; P = 0.048) in PostExh compared with PreExh. Performance time in the 4000-m TT was reduced following β-alanine supplementation (−6.3 ± 4.6 s; P = 0.034) and the mean anaerobic power output was likely to be greater (+6.2 ± 4.5 W; P = 0.035). β-Alanine supplementation increased time to exhaustion concomitant with an augmented anaerobic capacity during supramaximal intensity cycling, which was also mirrored by a meaningful increase in the anaerobic contribution to power output during a 4000-m cycling TT, resulting in an enhanced overall performance.


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