Comparison of the aerobic performance of leg and arm muscles in cross-country skiers

Abstract

In the last fifteen years, a trend has appeared in cross-country ski racing to increase the use of double poling and, therefore, to increase the load on the shoulder girdle (arm) muscles. The purpose of this study was to compare the aerobic performance of elite cross-country skiers in incremental running (treadmill) and double poling (with manual ski ergometer) tests to exhaustion. Four junior cross-country skiers and four biathletes ($\dot V_{O_{2max} }$ = 70 (66–72) mL/min per kg body weight) participated in the experiment. In the double poling test, the lactate concentration increased more rapidly than in the running test, and the peak oxygen consumption ($\dot V_{O_{2peak} }$) in the double poling test was 88 (84–93)% of the maximal oxygen consumption ($\dot V_{O_{2max} }$) in the running test. The relative anaerobic threshold, which characterizes the relative level of current aerobic performance, in the double poling test was significantly lower than in the running test (79 (57–83)% vs 94 (90–98)%, respectively). On the basis of these data, it can be concluded that the main reserve for a further increase in the aerobic performance of cross-country skiers and biathletes is the increase in the aerobic capacity of arm and trunk muscles.