Substantial inter-individual variations in exercise economy exist even in highly trained endurance athletes. The variation is believed to be determined partly by intrinsic factors. Therefore, in the present study, we compared exercise economy in V2-skating, double poling, and uphill running. Ten highly trained male cross-country skiers (23 ± 3 years, 180 ± 6 cm, 75 ± 8 kg, VO2peak running: 76.3 ± 5.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) participated in the study. Exercise economy and VO2peak during treadmill running, ski skating (V2 technique) and double poling were compared based on correlation analysis. There was a very large correlation in exercise economy between V2-skating and double poling (r = 0.81) and large correlations between V2-skating and running (r = 0.53) and double poling and running (r = 0.58). There were trivial to moderate correlations between exercise economy and the intrinsic factors VO2peak (r = 0.00–0.23), cycle rate (r = 0.03–0.46), body mass (r = −0.09–0.46) and body height (r = 0.11–0.36). In conclusion, the inter-individual variation in exercise economy could be explained only moderately by differences in VO2peak, body mass and body height. Apparently other intrinsic factors contribute to the variation in exercise economy between highly trained subjects.

For a comparable amount of training, male athletes showed constantly higher markers of sympathetic activity after a provocation maneuver. This may explain part of the male predominance in sports-related SCD.

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Background and Purpose. The knowledge and skills needed by physical therapists entering practice in the areas of leadership, administration, management, and professionalism (LAMP) are not known. Using the LAMP components identified by American Physical Therapy Association's Section on Administration, this study sought to define the range of LAMP content pertinent to physical therapy clinical management and to explore LAMP knowledge and skills required of physical therapists upon entry into the profession. Subjects and Methods. Thirty-four physical therapist managers participated in a Delphi study to (1) create a comprehensive list of defined LAMP components, (2) determine the perceived importance of each component in the management of clinical practices, and (3) identify the level of knowledge and skill for each component believed to be necessary for a new physical therapist graduate. Results. Respondents agreed that 178 items should be on the LAMP component list. They perceived that almost all LAMP components are important in the management of a clinical practice, and they indicated that new graduates needed moderate to extensive knowledge in 44% of them. They believed that new graduates needed no skill in 29% of the components, whereas they needed at least intermediate skill for 22% of them. Top-ranked component categories across the 3 scales (importance, knowledge, and skill) were communication, professional involvement and ethical practice, delegation and supervision, stress management, reimbursement sources, time management, and health care industry scanning. Discussion and Conclusion. This study provides a basis for further exploration of which LAMP components should be included in professional (entry-level) physical therapist curricula and which components should be learned after graduation.