Abstract:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of systematic beach volleyball training and competition on running economy (RE) and VO 2max of indoor volleyball players. Thus, the participants underwent two measurements. The first measurement (PRE) occurred before the players begin systematic beach volleyball training, just after the end of indoor volleyball season. The second measurement (POST) occurred after the final tournament of the beach volleyball season, twelve weeks after the first measurement. All of them underwent anthropometric measurements, body fat assessment and performed running on treadmill at speeds of 8, 10 and 12 km·h-1 for three minutes at each level. Parameters such as heart rate (HR), VO 2 in absolute and relative values, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and minute ventilation (VE) were recorded. Moreover, VO 2max was also tested. Body mass and fat were significantly decreased after the beach volleyball period. HR decreased significantly (p<.01) at 8, 12 and 10 km·h -1 and VO 2 differ significantly, with a decrease in 8 (p<.05) 10 (p<.01) and 12 km·h -1 (p<.001) in both absolute (l·min -1 ) and relative (ml·kg -1 ·min -1 ) values, showing an improvement of RE. RER decreased significantly at the speeds of 10 (p<.05) and 12 km·h-1 (p<.01), whereas VE recorded a significant difference in 12 km·h -1 (p<.001). Additionally, the results indicate a significant increase in VO 2max (p<.01) both in absolute (l·min -1 ) and relative (ml·kg -1 ·min -1 ) values. Conclusively, it seems that systematic beach volleyball training leads to an improvement of RE and VO 2max of the amateur indoor volleyball players. These findings indicate that the improvements caused by beach volleyball training can be considerably effective in the performance of the athletes throughout the total duration of a volleyball game.

Abstract:The purpose of this study was to compare energy cost between climbers and mountain bike riders, during running and cycling. Seventeen climbers (29,1±7,4 yrs) and seventeen mountain bike riders (32,3+7,4 yrs) participated in the study. All participants performed exercise tests on a treadmill and on a cycle ergometer. Energy cost, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and other cardiorespiratory parameters were determined by an open circuit system, during maximal performance and three submaximal loads (8, 10, 12 km/h for running and 100, 150, 200 Watt for cycling). The results revealed differences in VO2max for both groups. Comparing running with cycling showed that VO2max values were higher for climbers during running and for mountain bike riders during cycling (p<0.05). Energy cost showed no differences for climbers compared to MTB riders during running (for 8, 10 & 12 km/h respectively). On the other hand a significantly lower energy cost was observed in MTB riders, compared to climbers, during cycling test (p< 0.05 for 100 & 150 Watt respectively). The conclusion was that mountain bike riders presented lower energy cost than climbers during the first two submaximal loads in cycling test (100, 150 watt). Contrarily, no differences in energy cost occurred between the groups during running. It was hypothesized that those differences were due to the different exercise models between the groups and that climbers are not specifically cycle trained.