title: Effects of upper-body sprint-interval training on strength and endurance capacities in female cross-country skiers.
abstract: This study compared the effects of adding upper-body sprint-intervals or continuous double poling endurance training to the normal training on maximal upper-body strength and endurance capacity in female cross-country skiers. In total, 17 female skiers (age: 18.1±0.8yr, body mass: 60±7 kg, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max): 3.30±0.37 L.min-1) performed an 8-week training intervention. Here, either two weekly sessions of six to eight 30-s maximal upper-body double poling sprint-intervals (SIG, n = 8) or 45-75 min of continuous low-to-moderate intensity double poling on roller skis (CG, n = 9) were added to their training. Before and after the intervention, the participants were tested for physiological and kinematical responses during submaximal and maximal diagonal and double poling treadmill roller skiing. Additionally, we measured maximal upper-body strength (1RM) and average power at 40% 1RM in a poling-specific strength exercise. SIG improved absolute VO2max in diagonal skiing more than CG (8% vs 2%, p<0.05), and showed a tendency towards higher body-mass normalized VO2max (7% vs 2%, p = 0.07). Both groups had an overall improvement in double poling peak oxygen uptake (10% vs 6% for SIG and CG) (both p<0.01), but no group-difference was observed. SIG improved 1RM strength more than CG (18% vs 10%, p<0.05), while there was a tendency for difference in average power at 40% 1RM (20% vs 14%, p = 0.06). Oxygen cost and kinematics (cycle length and rate) in double poling and diagonal remained unchanged in both groups. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that adding upper-body sprint-interval training is more effective than continuous endurance training in improving upper-body maximal strength and VO2max.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandbakk
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nord University, Levanger, Norway.|School of Sport Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Boye
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Welde
authors.affiliation: K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Andrea Hovstein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kruken
authors.affiliation: Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baumgart
authors.affiliation: Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Gertjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ettema
authors.affiliation: K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Øyvind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Sandbakk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D000072696:High-Intensity Interval Training; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen