Aerobic power and supramaximal endurance of competitive figure skaters.

HYPOTHESES

1. figure skaters possess average aerobic power; 2) on-ice training would not improve aerobic power of supramaximal endurance; 3) off-ice training plus on-ice training would improve aerobic power and supramaximal endurance.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

This was a prospective, controlled study in which we monitored ice skaters before, during and after two different 10 week training programs.

SETTING

Athletes training for competition sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association.

PARTICIPANTS

15 figure skaters (12 females) enrolled at an ice skating academy were randomly placed in two study groups.

INTERVENTIONS

Grp 1 maintained on-ice training and Grp 2 supplemented on-ice with cycle ergometer training.

MEASURES

Maximum O2 consumption (VO2peak) during cycle ergometer exercise, anaerobic threshold, HR, supramaximal exercise time and the lactate (LACT) response to exercise.

RESULTS

(, p < 0.05), Grp 1: VO2peak, pre = 44.2 +/- 2.2 ml/[kg.min], post = 41.4 +/- 1.6 ml/[kg.min]; VO2peak% (% predicted), pre = 100 +/- 5%, post = 92 +/- 4%; anaerobic threshold as % VO2peak (AT%), pre = 74 +/- 3%, post = 73 +/- 3%; Supramaximal Time, pre = 0.87 +/- 0.12 min, post = 0.94 +/- 0.12 min; lower LACT occurred at VO2peak and supramaximal exercise following on-ice training. Grp 2: VO2peak, pre = 50.7 +/- 3.6 ml/[kg.min], post = 55.9 +/- 3.3 ml/[kg.min]; VO2peak%, pre = 110 +/- 7%, post = 121 +/- 6%; AT%, pre = 80 +/- 2%, post = 83 +/- 2%; Supramaximal Time, pre = 1.31 +/- 0.18 min, post = 2.69 +/- 0.66 min*; lower LACT occurred at 50%, 75% and VO2peak following training.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Grp 1 plus Grp 2 had average aerobic power (VO2peak = 105 +/- 3% of predicted) prior to the study; 2) on-ice training did not affect aerobic power or supramaximal endurance, while off-ice training improved these parameters; 3) the LACT response detected training adaptations.