Abstract

Full assessment of cardiovascular involvement in any sport, including crosscountry skiing, requires the simultaneous recording of a number of parameters:max. VO2, heart rate and output, arteriovenous O2 difference, heart volume, the extent of the systemic and pulmonary vascular bed, lung volumes, ECG and TTI. The work of Hanson has shown that, in cross-country skiing, max. VO2 and heart rate, O2 pulse, maximum systolic volumes, and static and dynamic lung volumes and heart volume may be among the highest in the literature in trainedsubjects. Increased heart volume is due to so-called regulation dilatation. The typical ECG picture includes a possible slight involvement of the right heart, as shown by changes in the P wave and right focal blocks. Nevertheless,it is felt that a study of the cardiovascular fitness of normal persons practising non-competitive cross-country skiing should be related toreference values for these parameters obtained from subjects of the same age, weight, climate and diet who are sedentary or practise other sports. Verf.-Referat