Any Effect of Gymnastics Training on Upper-Body and Lower-Body Aerobic and Power Components in National and International Male Gymnasts?

Abstract

Aerobic and anaerobic performance of the upper body (UB) and lower body (LB) were assessed by arm cranking and treadmill tests respectively in a comparison of national (N) and international (I) male gymnasts. Force velocity and Wingate tests were performed using cycle ergometers for both arms and legs. In spite of a significant difference in training volume (4- 12 vs. 27-34 h.wk(-1) for N and I, respectively), there was no significant difference between N and I in aerobic and anaerobic performance. Upper body and LB maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) values were 34.44 +/- 4.62 and 48.64 +/- 4.63 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) vs. 33.39 +/- 4.77 and 49.49 +/- 5.47 ml.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively, for N and I. Both N and I had a high lactic threshold (LT), at 76 and 82% of VO(2)max, respectively. Values for UB and LB force velocity (9.75 +/- 1.12 and 15.07 +/- 4.25 vs. 10.63 +/- 0.95 and 15.87 +/- 1.25 W.kg(-1)) and Wingate power output (10.43 +/- 0.74 and 10.98 +/- 3.06 vs. 9.58 +/- 0.60 and 13.46 +/- 1.34 W.kg(-1)) were also consistent for N and I. These findings confirm the consistency of VO(2)max values presented for gymnasts in the last 4 decades, together with an increase in peak power values. Consistent values for aerobic and anaerobic performance suggest that the significant difference in training volume is related to other aspects of perfomance that distinguish N from I gymnasts. Modern gymnastics training at N and I levels is characterized by a focus on relative strength and peak power. In the present study, the high LT is a reflection of the importance of strength training, which is consistent with research for sports such as wrestling.

Physiological Demands of Young Women’s Competitive Gymnastic Routines

“…Emotional involvement [18] or prolongation of isometric muscular contraction [28] during gymnastics routines may increase the HR without a concomitant VO 2 increase. Even considering the HR overshoot typically observed after gymnastics routines [8], energy expenditure requirements cannot be extrapolated from the relationship between VO 2 and HR assessed during laboratory tests, as some authors have done [19], because conceptually gymnastics is very different from running [13]. The very short vault routines, whose L max values confirmed the alactic anaerobic nature of these exercises, can be considered an exception.…”

“…There is no doubt that strength, flexibility and mechanical and anaerobic power are the primary factors in MAG and WAG performance [14]. Nevertheless, in spite of the criticisms made by some authors of the need to develop VO 2 max in MAG [13], the high percentage of VO 2 measured immediately after WAG competitive routines compared with the treadmill test (especially in the floor exercise) suggests that aerobic power training should not be neglected in female artistic gymnasts. Possibly the inclusion of music and the greater importance of choreographic elements in the floor event mean that these routines are more continuous than the ones that MAG gymnasts perform.…”

“…In recent decades studies have assessed HR, VO 2 and blood lactate in laboratory or field situations in different forms of gymnastics. Initially, some of them used only HR [6, 15], confining VO 2 assessment to laboratory situations in women's artistic gymnastics (WAG) [18, 26, 29], men's artistic gymnastics (MAG) [8, 13] and rhythmic gymnastics [1]. Interestingly, multifactorial studies assessing VO 2 , HR and blood lactate have measured VO 2 only in laboratory conditions, using treadmill or cycloergometer tests [8, 13, 18].…”

“…Initially, some of them used only HR [6, 15], confining VO 2 assessment to laboratory situations in women's artistic gymnastics (WAG) [18, 26, 29], men's artistic gymnastics (MAG) [8, 13] and rhythmic gymnastics [1]. Interestingly, multifactorial studies assessing VO 2 , HR and blood lactate have measured VO 2 only in laboratory conditions, using treadmill or cycloergometer tests [8, 13, 18]. Combined measurements of these three parameters, carried out during or just after the completion of competitive gymnastics routines, as we are going to do in this study, have been reported in rhythmic gymnastics [9], but not in artistic gymnastics (WAG & MAG).…”

Usefulness and Metabolic Impli-Cations of a 60-Second Repeated Jumps Test as a Predictor of Acrobatic Jumping Performance in Gymnasts

“…Competition exercises last close to 1 min, and the heart rate (HR) at the end of most of the exercises is about 180 beats min −1 . In addition, many muscle groups work in isometric conditions, with submaximal and maximal muscle forces [15, 22]. Consequently, it has been hypothesized that there are considerable requirements of the anaerobic lactic pathway of energy production.…”