title: The physical demands of riding in National Hunt races.
abstract: Heart rate (fc) and post-competition blood lactate concentration ([La+]) were studied in seven male professional National Hunt jockeys over 30 races. The fc response for individual races followed a similar pattern for all subjects. The mean peak fc recorded during competition was 184 beats.min-1 (range 162-198 beats.min-1) with average fc during the races ranging from 136 to 188 beats.min-1. During consecutive races the recovery fc did not return to resting values. The mean [La+] was 7.1 mmol.l-1 (range 3.5-15.0 mmol.l-1). The conclusions of this study suggest that riding in National Hunt races is a physically demanding occupation. The muscular activity in this profession requires a high metabolic drive and produces a significant cardiorespiratory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Trowbridge
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Cotterill
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Crofts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid