Classification of selected cardiopulmonary variables of elite athletes of different age, gender, and disciplines during incremental exercise testing

Abstract

Incremental exercise testing is frequently used as a tool for evaluating determinants of endurance performance. The available reference values for the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), % of VO2peak, running speed at the lactate threshold (vLT), running economy (RE), and maximal running speed (vpeak) for different age, gender, and disciplines are not sufficient for the elite athletic population. The key variables of 491 young athletes (age range 12–21 years; 250 males, 241 females) assessed during a running step test protocol (2.4 m s−1; increase 0.4 m s−1 5 min−1) were analysed in five subgroups, which were related to combat-, team-, endurance-, sprint- and power-, and racquet-related disciplines. Compared with female athletes, male athletes achieved a higher vpeak (P = 0.004). The body mass, lean body mass, height, abs. VO2peak (ml min−1), rel. VO2peak (ml kg−1 min−1), rel. VO2peak (ml min−1 kg−0.75), and RE were higher in the male participants compared with the females (P < 0.01). The % of VO2 at vLT was lower in the males compared with the females (P < 0.01). No differences between gender were detected for the vLT (P = 0.17) and % of VO2 at vLT (P = 0.42). This study is one of the first to provide a broad spectrum of data to classify nearly 500 elite athletes aged 12–21 years of both gender and different disciplines.

Cardiopulmonary exercise tests of adolescent elite sport climbers—a comparison of the German junior national team in sport climbing and nordic skiing

“…The longitudinal approach of 14 athletes of whom two exercise tests spaced 2 years apart could be compared the nordic skiers achieved significantly higher CPET parameters except for peak blood lactate. The values of were comparable to the data from previous studies for endurance athletes [29] and taking into consideration the fact that they were obtained during a cycle ergometry and not on a treadmill, even higher. This finding reflects the very high endurance level of elite nordic skiers.…”

“…When evaluating the CPET data from the 47 athletes who were seen on one occasion, the values of the boys (41.3 mL kg -1 min -1 ) and girls (39.8 mL kg -1 min -1 ) were comparable to a previous study which studied adult climbers on a cycle ergometer (45 .5 mL kg -1 min -1 ) [11]. The highest values of are achieved by young elite (national team members) endurance athletes (60 mL kg -1 min -1 ) [29].…”

“…Adolescent sprint-and power-related athletes range between 46 mL kg -1 min -1 for girls and 52 mL kg -1 min -1 for boys [29]. Aerobic capacity has been estimated to be one of the most important predictors for good results in combat disciplines and they range between 55 mL kg -1 min -1 for male and 46 mL kg -1 min -1 for female adolescents [29] and even higher in elite junior judo athletes and boxers who achieved values as high as 53 -66 mL kg -1 min -1 [30]. Team sports achieve values ranging between 47 mL kg -1 min -1 [31] and 59 mL kg -1 min -1 [32] .…”

Impact of Type of Sport, Gender and Age on Red Blood Cell Deformability of Elite Athletes

“…Participants were assigned to sport type groups as done before [40] with the exception that endurance athletes were further subdivided into "Endurance sports" and "Endurance-Strength sports". Sport groups included athletes of the following disciplines: Team sport (Basketball, Field-Hockey, Soccer, Handball, Canoe Polo, American Football), Return sport (Tennis, Badminton, Table Ten…”

Effects of Individualised Training Zones and Adaptations in Elite Female Rowers

“…Following this test, the data suggest, through cardiopulmonary assessment, the identification of physiological factors limiting the general effort performed and establishing the main differences between the groups of athletes (Zinner, Sperlich, & Wahl, 2015). Thus, changes in VO 2 during the sustained activity will influence energy resource during exercise and the total time spent at certain intensity (Bishop, Bonetti, & Dawson, 2002).…”