Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiologic and metabolic parameters of speed-skaters with different training regimes and performance level and examine some physiologic prerequisites for speed-skating. The subjects were 25 male speed-skaters including members of the 1984 Japanese National Speed Skating Team whose agers ranged from 19 to 25 years. Aerobic threshold (AerT), anaerobic threshold (AnT), and V02max were determined during a progressive bicycle ergometer exercise. The power was increased by 12.25 W every 3 min to exhaustion. AerT was determined using gas exchange variables; nonlinear increase in VE and VCO2, and peak V02/VE. AnT was estimated from breakaway VE and the onset of decrease in FECO2. VO2max was measured during another incremental exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Mean AerT, AnT, and V02max for skaters (n=25) were 2.47 +/- 0.36 /min (61.1 +/- 7.2 V02max), 2.93 +/- 0.33 /min (73.4 +/- 5.9 V02max), and 4.06 +/- 0.42 /min, respectively. All-arounders had higher AerT values but the same V02max as sprinters. AnT of all-arounders was significantly higher than those of sprints. A significant difference between the top ten elite skaters and the other skaters (n=15) was found only in V02max expressed as l/min. However, no significant correlation was noted between measured physiologic variables (AerT, AnT, and V02max) and performances expressed as mean velocities at various events. These results might suggest that V02max expressed as absolute term (l/min) is the primary important factor for the high-level performance and that the AerT and the AnT, in particular the AnT, would also be of physiologic significance for speed-skaters in endurance events. Verf.-Referat