Endurance Training and the Risk of Bronchial Asthma in Female Cross-Country Skiers

Author(s):  
A. Żebrowska ◽  
B. Głuchowska ◽  
D. Jastrzębski ◽  
A. Kochańska-Dziurowicz ◽  
A. Stanjek-Cichoracka ◽  
...  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øyvind Sandbakk ◽  
Hans-Christer Holmberg

Cross-country (XC) skiing has been an Olympic event since the first Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Due to more effective training and tremendous improvements in equipment and track preparation, the speed of Olympic XC-ski races has increased more than that of any other Olympic endurance sport. Moreover, pursuit, mass-start, and sprint races have been introduced. Indeed, 10 of the 12 current Olympic competitions in XC skiing involve mass starts, in which tactics play a major role and the outcome is often decided in the final sprint. Accordingly, reappraisal of the success factors for performance in this context is required. The very high aerobic capacity (VO2max) of many of today’s world-class skiers is similar that of their predecessors. At the same time, the new events provide more opportunities to profit from anaerobic capacity, upper-body power, high-speed techniques, and “tactical flexibility.” The wide range of speeds and slopes involved in XC skiing requires skiers to continuously alternate between and adapt different subtechniques during a race. This technical complexity places a premium on efficiency. The relative amounts of endurance training performed at different levels of intensity have remained essentially constant during the past 4 decades. However, in preparation for the Sochi Olympics in 2014, XC skiers are performing more endurance training on roller skis on competition-specific terrain, placing greater focus on upper-body power and more systematically performing strength training and skiing at high speeds than previously.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per-Øyvind Torvik ◽  
Guro Strøm Solli ◽  
Øyvind Sandbakk

Purpose: To investigate the training characteristics of world-class long-distance cross-country skiers.Methods: Twelve world-class male long-distance cross-country skiing specialists reported training from their best season, through a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Training data were systemized by training form (endurance, strength, and speed), intensity [low- (LIT), moderate- (MIT), and high-intensity training (HIT)], and exercise mode, followed by a division into different periodization phases. Specific sessions utilized in the various periodization phases were also analyzed.Results: The annual training volume was 861 ± 90 h, consisting of 795 ± 88 h (92%) of endurance training, 53 ± 17 h (6%) of strength training, and 13 ± 14 h (2%) of speed training. A pyramidal (asymptotic) endurance training distribution was employed (i.e., 88.7% LIT, 6.4% MIT, and 4.8% HIT). Out of this, 50–60% of the endurance training was performed with double poling (DP), typically in the form of a daily 3- to 5-h session. A relatively evenly distributed week-to-week periodization of training load was commonly used in the general preparation period, whereas skiers varied between high-load training weeks and competition weeks, with half the training volume and a reduced amount of DP during the competition period.Conclusions: To match the specific demands of long-distance cross-country skiing, specialized long-distance skiers perform relatively long but few training sessions and use a pyramidal intensity distribution pattern and a large amount of training spent using the DP technique.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1181-1188
Author(s):  
Evgeny B. Myakinchenko ◽  
Andrey S. Kriuchkov ◽  
Nikita V. Adodin ◽  
Victor Feofilaktov

Purpose: To compare the training-volume (TrV) distribution of Russian international-level male biathletes, female biathletes, and cross-country skiers (XC) during an annual cycle. Methods: Day-to-day TrVs were recorded and averaged for a 5-year period for male biathletes (n = 6), female biathletes (n = 8), and XC (n = 14) with VO2max values of 77.7 (3.8), 64.6 (1.9), and 79.4 (3.5) mL·min−1·kg−1, respectively. Results: The volumes of low- and moderate-intensity endurance training and all types of nonspecific endurance and strength training gradually decreased toward the competition period. However, the volumes and proportions of high-intensity endurance training and specific exercises (roller skiing, skiing, and shooting during high-intensity endurance training) increased by the time of the competition period. The total volume of training, volumes of low- and moderate-intensity endurance training, moderate- and high-load strength training (70%–95% 1RM), and power/speed loads did not increase gradually but reached their maximum immediately after a short stage of initial training. All teams employed the “pyramid” model of intensity distribution. Compared with the biathletes, XC demonstrated a larger (P < .01) annual volume of endurance training (~190 h), low-intensity endurance training (~183 h), and strength training (~818 sets). They also engaged in more upper-body and core-strength exercises (~769 sets), and they reached their maximum aerobic TrVs in June, while the biathletes reached theirs in July. Conclusions: In recent decades, the traditional model of periodization has been altered. The Russian XC and biathletes had significant differences in TrVs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65
Author(s):  
Peter Žiška ◽  
Dávid Olasz ◽  
Matúš Krčmár

SummaryIn the study, we have tried to demonstrate the effect of endurance training on changes in functional parameters during the preparation phase (12-week mesocycle) among cross-country skiers. The group consisted of 10 male cross-country skiers (age: 21.4 ±5 year) who completed control (1st6 week mesocycle) and experimental period (2nd6 week mesocycle).We focused on the following time-varying parameters: changes in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), the level of aerobic (AeT) and anaerobic thresholds (AT), maximum heart rate (HRmax) and performance on the running treadmill. The intra-individual monitoring of each athlete revealed statistical significance of VO2max (mid_VO2max = 69.48 ± 5.72 l.kg-1.min-1, post_ VO2max = 70.96 ± 5.67 ml.kg-1.min-1; p≤0.05) and the level of AT (mid_AT = 86.2 ± 5.43 %, post_AT = 87.8 ± 5.59 %; p≤0.01) the performance on the running treadmill (mid_t = 14:54 ± 1:43 min., post_t = 15:30 ± 1:50 min.; p≤0.05).The significant changes were recorded in the AeT(pre_AeT = 70.3 ± 7.56 %, mid_AeT = 72.5 ± 7.59 %; p≤0.05) in theHRmax(pre_HRmax = 190 ± 8.04 bpm, mid_HRmax = 189 bpm, post_HRmax = 188 ± 7.34 bpm; p = n.s.) during control period. We assume that the significant differences occurred as a result of adaptation changes due to training stimuli, which were induced by changes in functional parameters. Increased training volume in zone lower level of oxygen regime (A1), upper level of oxygen regime (A2) and upper level of lactate tolerance(T2) during experimental period elicited changes which reflected the increase functional parameters and performance on the running treadmill compared to that of control period.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1371-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pål Haugnes ◽  
Jan Kocbach ◽  
Harri Luchsinger ◽  
Gertjan Ettema ◽  
Øyvind Sandbakk

Purpose: To investigate fluctuations in speed, work rate, and heart rate (HR) when cross-country ski skating across varying terrains at different endurance-training intensities. Methods: Seven male junior Norwegian skiers performed maximal-speed (Vmax) tests in both flat and uphill terrains. Thereafter, 5-km sessions at low (LIT), moderate (MIT), and high intensity (HIT) were performed based on their own perception of intensity while monitored by a global navigation satellite system with integrated barometry and accompanying HR monitor. Results: Speed, HR, and rating of perceived exertion gradually increased from LIT to MIT and HIT, both for the total course and in flat and uphill terrains (all P < .05). Uphill work rates (214 [24] W, 298 [27] W, and 350 [54] W for LIT, MIT, and HIT, respectively) and the corresponding percentage of maximal HR (79.2% [6.1]%, 88.3% [2.4]%, and 91.0% [1.7]%) were higher than in flat terrain (159 [16] W, 206 [19] W, and 233 [72] W vs 72.3% [6.3]%, 83.2% [2.3]%, and 87.4% [2.0]% for LIT, MIT, and HIT, respectively) (all P < .01). In general, ∼13% point lower utilization of maximal work rate was reached in uphill than in flat terrain at all intensities (all P < .01). Conclusions: Cross-country ski training across varying terrains is clearly interval based in terms of speed, external work rate, and metabolic intensity for all endurance-training intensities. Although work rate and HR were highest in uphill terrain at all intensities, the utilization of maximal work rate was higher in flat terrain. This demonstrates the large potential for generating external work rate when uphill skiing and the corresponding downregulation of effort due to the metabolic limitations.


2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1299-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øyvind Sandbakk ◽  
Boye Welde ◽  
Hans-Christer Holmberg

1977 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 822-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Henane ◽  
R. Flandrois ◽  
J. P. Charbonnier

Sweating sensitivity has been evaluated at rest in 10 competitive athletes (cross-country skiers and swimmers). Three sedentary men underwent a 3-mo period of endurance training in a temperate climate, (dry bulb temperature (Tdb): 18 degrees C) and had their sweating sensitivity measured before and after the training period. Mean maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2max, ml.min(-1).kg(-1)) was: skiers: 66.5; swimmers 65.8; sedentary men, pretraining 40.9; posttraining: 48.3 (+18%). Sweat output of athletes under a given stress (passive heating) was markedly higher than that of sedentary men. Skiers exhibited a high level of heat tolerance and were better acclimatized than swimmers, although they had never experienced exposure to heat. The increase in Vo2max of sedentary men was accompanied by 1) an increase in sweating sensitivity with a decrease of body heat storage at steady state (pretraining: 5.4 kJ.kg(-1); posttraining: 3.5 kJ.kg(-1); P less than 0.05); 2) significant shift down the temperature scale with reduced rectal temperature (Tre) for sweat onset; 3) an increase of gain constants of sweating (W.m-2 degrees C(-1) (pretraining: 168; posttraining: 269; gain constant of swimmers: 222). It was suggested that endurance training in cold or temperate conditions with significant increase of Vo2max could act on the thermoregulatory function in a way similar to body heating procedures, such as work in heat, and could contribute to heat acclimatization.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øyvind Sandbakk ◽  
Vegard Rasdal ◽  
Steinar Bråten ◽  
Frode Moen ◽  
Gertjan Ettema

Purpose:To compare sport-specific laboratory capacities and the annual training of world-class Nordic combined (NC) athletes with specialized ski jumpers (SJ) and cross-country (XC) skiers.Methods:Five world-class athletes from each sports discipline were compared. Ski jump imitations were performed on a 3-dimensional force plate in NC athletes and SJ, whereas XC skiing characteristics were obtained from submaximal and maximal roller ski skating on a treadmill in NC athletes and XC skiers. In addition, anthropometrics and annual training characteristics were determined.Results:NC athletes demonstrated 9% higher body mass and showed 17% lower vertical speed in the ski jump imitation than SJ (all P < .05). NC athletes had 12% lower body mass and showed 10% lower peak treadmill speed and 12% lower body-mass-normalized peak oxygen uptake than XC skiers (all P < .05). NC athletes performed half the number of ski-jumping-specific sessions and outdoor ski jumps compared with SJ. NC athletes performed 31% less endurance training, mainly caused by lower amounts of low- and moderate-intensity training in the classical technique, whereas high-intensity strength and speed training and endurance training in the skating technique did not differ substantially from XC skiers.Conclusions:To simultaneously optimize endurance, explosive, and technical capacities in 2 different disciplines, world-class NC athletes train approximately two-thirds of the XC skier’s endurance training volume and perform one-half of the ski-jump-specific training compared with SJ. Still, the various laboratory capacities differed only 10–17% compared with SJ and XC skiers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Zack B. Murphy ◽  
Mikaela D. Lengwin ◽  
Elaina S. Biechler

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