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Gender differences in power production, energetic capacity and efficiency of elite cross-country skiers during whole-body, upper-body, and arm poling

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Abstract

Purpose

To characterize gender differences in power output, energetic capacity and exercise efficiency during whole-body (WP), upper-body (UP), and arm poling (AP).

Methods

Ten male and ten female elite cross-country skiers, matched for international performance level, completed three incremental submaximal tests and a 3-min self-paced performance test on a Concept2 SkiErg. Power output, cardiorespiratory and kinematic variables were monitored. Body composition was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results

The men demonstrated 87, 97 and 103 % higher power output, and 51, 65 and 71 % higher VO2peak (L min−1) than the women during WP, UP and AP, respectively, while utilizing ~10 % more of their running VO2max in all modes (all P < 0.001). The men had 35, 38 and 59 % more lean mass in the whole body, upper body and arms (all P < 0.001). The men exhibited greater shoulder and elbow extension at the start of poling and greater trunk flexion at the end of poling (all P < 0.05). The relationship between VO2 and power output did not differ between the men and women.

Conclusions

Gender differences in power production and peak aerobic capacity increased sequentially from WP to UP to AP, coinciding with a greater portion of the muscle mass in the arms of the men. Although the men and women employed each poling technique differently, the estimated efficiency of double poling was independent of gender.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AP:

Arm poling

cm:

Centimeter

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

FIS:

International Ski Federation

h:

Hours

HRmax :

Maximal heart rate

J:

Joule

kg:

Kilogram

L:

Liter

min:

Minute

mmol:

Millimole

O2 :

Oxygen

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

UP:

Upper-body poling

VO2 :

Oxygen uptake

VO2max :

Maximal oxygen uptake

W:

Watts

WP:

Whole-body poling

yrs:

Years

µL:

Microliter

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the skiers and coaches for their cooperation and participation, Kenneth Myhre for assistance in the laboratory, and Jørgen Danielsen for assistance in analyzing kinematic data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Center for Elite Sports Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Smistadvegen 11, 7026, Trondheim, Norway

    Ann Magdalen Hegge, Gertjan Ettema & Øyvind Sandbakk

  2. Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Elias Bucher & Oliver Faude

  3. Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden

    Hans-Christer Holmberg

Authors
  1. Ann Magdalen Hegge
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  2. Elias Bucher
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  3. Gertjan Ettema
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  4. Oliver Faude
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  5. Hans-Christer Holmberg
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  6. Øyvind Sandbakk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ann Magdalen Hegge.

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Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

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Hegge, A.M., Bucher, E., Ettema, G. et al. Gender differences in power production, energetic capacity and efficiency of elite cross-country skiers during whole-body, upper-body, and arm poling. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 291–300 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3281-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3281-y

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