The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of indirect methods of assessment of VO2max for estimation of physical capacity of trained male and female rowers during a training cycle. A group of 8 female and 14 male rowers performed the maximal intensity test simulating the regatta distance (a 2 km test) and a submaximal incremental exercise test on a rowing ergometer. The suitability of the indirect methods of predicting VO2max during the training cycle was evaluated by performing the tests twice: in females at an interval of five months and in males at an interval of seven months. To indirectly estimate VO2max, regression formulas obtained for the linear relationship between the examined effort indices were utilized based on 1) mean power obtained in the 2 km test, and 2) submaximal exercises after the estimation of PWC170. Although the suitability of the two indirect methods of assessment of VO2max was statisticaly confirmed, their usefulness for estimation of changes in physical fitness of trained rowers during the training cycle was rather low. Such an opinion stems from the fact that the total error of these methods (range between 4.2-7.7% in female and 5.1-7.4% in male rowers) was higher than the real differences in VO2max values determined in direct measurements (between the first and the second examination maximal oxygen uptake rose by 3.0% in female rowers and decreased by 4.3% in male rowers).

Twelve girls who trained in rowing were examined twice a year for 4 years. Their initial age was 11.7 ± (SD) 0.2 yrs. Control groups consisted of 13 girls age 11.5±0.3 yrs and 18 girls age 14.4±0.3 yrs examined simultaneously with trained girls in the first and last year of the study, respectively. The examination involved basic anthropometry, estimation of sexual maturation (Tanner scale), 2-day food records, measurements of resting metabolic rate, energy expenditure following glucose ingestion (50 g), and determinations of blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations prior to and 2 hrs after glucose load. Body mass, height, and fat content were slightly greater in trained girls. None of the subjects reported disturbances in menstrual function, and the age of menarche was similar for all. Both trained and untrained girls reported similar daily energy intake closer to the lower limit or slightly below the estimates of energy requirements for adolescents. Resting metabolic rate calculated per kg of total body mass or lean body mass was lower in trained girls, while the thermogenic effect of glucose was greater. Plasma insulin concentrations measured 2 hrs after glucose ingestion were lower in trained girls. The results suggest that in circumpubertal girls, increased physical activity leads to energy conservation at rest in postabsorptive state and a tendency toward enhancement of food-induced thermogenesis.

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It is known, that an exertion of high intensity leads to fatigue of working muscles and to the deterioration their physical abilities. That phenomenon was especially noted during intensive and continues effort, for instant during Wingate test. At the end of that exertion lasting 30s the value of power output is always lower as compared to that recorded as peak power, reached few second after the start. That relative, percentage of power lost is expressed as fatigue index (FI). The study showed, that peak power and the maximal accumulated O (2) deficit were highly and significantly correlated and ability to maintain power output during a 30-s cycle sprint is related to anaerobic capacity [1]. Furthermore, the lost of ma ximal power is fitted by an exponential curve [2]. Among power athletes mean FI reaches almost 49% with absolute peak power amounting over 1000 Watt, and over 12.0 W/kg after its normalization to body mass [3]. Impairment of maximal power output has been found also in successive repeated "all-out" bouts, when the length of intermissions for rest is too small to reach full state of recovery prior to the next bout. In such cases the performance levels of consecutive exertions become more and more lower, even despite of previously loading by various pharmacological enhancers [4][5][6][7][8]. Long since it has been evidenced, that rate of post-effort recovery of cellular phosphagens ( PCr, ATP) play a crucial role in a rise of ability to generate again maximal, initial power output, while the depletion of the phosphagens is responsible for temporary impairment of the power. Obviously, there are also the other metabolic and physiological factors contributing to voluntary post-effort state of fatigue and rate of recovery and to the equilibrium between those two processes. These issues are taken into consider, when scheduling interval training session [9]. During intermittent exercises work-to-rest ratio influences SummaryIntroduction. In a single full-time judo struggle played by a male player lasts 5 minutes of active work, with excluding total time of rest periods, when a referee aborts a struggle. Thus work-to-rest is the factor showing both judging and fighting style. The aim of this study was to confirm hypothesis, that severe muscle fatigue may shifts work-to-rest ratio toward a lower values.Material and methods. Six senior male judo players were grouped into three pairs, which played repeated three full-time 5-minute judo sparing matches separated by 10-minute passive intermissions. The struggles were judged by the same referee. Total time of each struggle lasted 5 minutes of active combat with stoppage time of rest periods. Additional comparable observation was conducted during official judo tournaments, where each of six judokas played at least one full-time fight.Results. For 1 st and 2 nd struggle work-to-rest period were comparable, 2.27± 0.42, n=6, while for 3 rd struggle was lower 1.60±0.07. We suspect that lower work-to-rest ratio and higher sum of rest times resulted in higher frequency...

The purpose of the work was to characterize the 4-year preparation cycle for the Winter Olympic Games in Pyongyang (2018), the leading Polish speed skater M.W. Longitudinal tests included assessment of aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity determined in laboratory tests, respectively in the graded bicycle ergometer test and in the Wingate test performed with the lower extremity. The longitudinal data from exercise tests obtained in the analyzed 4-year period of preparation for the Olympic Games clearly indicate a significant improvement in the skater's exercise capacity. In the examined period of 2015-2018, the athlete obtained an increase in VO2max value by 6.5% to the level of 55.8 ml/kg/min. The nature of the observed changes in selected exercise indicators corresponded to the assumptions and implementation of training plans. The examined athlete was very well prepared for qualifying starts in October-November 2017 and she won three Olympic qualifications at distances 500, 1000 and 1500 m. During the Olympic Games, the Polish representative started the competition with starts at distances 1500 (20th place) and 500 m (28th place). At the leading distance of 1000 m, the competitor started at her level, reaching 12th place thus fulfilling the pre-start assumptions.

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The aim of the study was to determine anaerobic capacity and characterize changes in repeated sprint ability (RSA) within youth elite handball players. For this study, 142 male athletes (17.1 ± 0.9 years) were recruited from a handball sports high school and performed the RSA test on a cycle ergometer, including five 6 s all-out efforts separated by 24 s passive breaks. Maximal (Pmax) and mean (Pmean) power, highest (Wmax), and total work (Wtot) as well as power (Pdec) and work (Wdec) decrement were measured. Significant differences in RSA were noted in relation to age (greater values of Pmax, Pmean, Wtot, Wdec, and Pdec in U19 than U17 as well as greater values of Pmax, Wtot, Wmax, Wdec, and Pdec in U19 than U16 (p < 0.05)) and playing position (wing players had greater Wtot than pivot, 269 vs. 243 (J/kg) (p < 0.05), and wing players differed significantly in absolute and relative power from athletes of other positions). RSA depends on playing position and age in groups of youth handball players and the RSA test can be helpful in the selection of athletes for a playing position. The article introduces normative values for elite youth handball players, empowering coaches in the evaluation of anaerobic abilities and selection.

Background. Wrestling has very long tradition as a combat sport. The wresting competitions were played during the ancient Olympic Games. In the modern Olympic Games wresting is represented by two styles, free (FS) and Greco-Roman (GRS) style. There are differ regarding task structures, but in both cases physiological and physical demands are very high. We sought to check, whether wrestlers` anaerobic leg power and capacity are related to the wrestling style.Material and methods. Juvenile male FS (n=20) and GRS (n=22) of the similar anthropometric and demographic characteristics were subjected to perform Wingate test(30s). Absolute values of relative peak power (PP) , total work output (WO), time to PP (T att) and time sustained of at least 97.5 % of PP (Tsus). Resting blood cortisol and testosterone levels were determined on the day of testing.Results. Both groups demonstrated almost the same values of PP, WO and hormonal status. The only slight differences regarded kinematic data. GRS wrestlers demonstrated shorter (by 16.4%) T att and longer (by 13,3%) T sus. Weak correlations were found between hormones and biomechanical variables.Conclusion. Type of wresting style does not affect anaerobic leg performance if the both groups of athletes do not differ in demographic and anthropometric characteristics.