title: Comparison of heart rate deflection and ventilatory threshold during a field cross-country roller-skiing test.
abstract: This study was to assess whether the point of deflection from linearity of heart rate (HRd) could be an accurate predictor of ventilatory threshold (VT2) during a specific cross-country roller-skiing (RS) test. Ten well-trained cross-country skiers performed a maximal and incremental RS test in the field and a standardized maximal and incremental treadmill running (TR) test in the laboratory. Values of oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded during all exercises by a portable breath-by-breath gas exchange measurement system and a wireless Polar monitoring system, respectively. The VT2 and HRd points were individually determined by visual analysis during RS. Maximal VO2 (VO2 max) and HR were higher (p < 0.05) during TR (67.1 +/- 7.3 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and 196.0 +/- 14.1 bpm, respectively) compared with RS (64.2 +/- 7.3 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and 191.5 +/- 13.1 bpm, respectively). However, a high correlation (r = 0.94, p < 0.01) between TR and VO2 max was observed. Paired t-tests showed no significant differences in HR (183.6 +/- 15.1 vs. 185.2 +/- 13.9 bpm) and VO2 (55.5 +/- 7.1 vs. 55.8 +/- 6.1 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1)) at intensities corresponding to HRd and VT2 during the RS test, respectively; Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients demonstrated significant relationships for HR at the HRd and VT2 points (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) as well as for VO2 (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). Our results indicate that the specific incremental RS test is effective in eliciting HRd in the field for all skiers and is an accurate predictor of VT2. These findings give very interesting practical applications to cross-country coaches and skiers to evaluate and control specific aerobic training loads.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Analyse de la Performance Sportive, Département STAPS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Tarbes, France. fabre.nicolas@aliceadsl.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Passelergue
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouvard
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*