Validity and reliability of an incremental double poling protocol in cross-country skiers

Authors

  • Andrew Govus Edith Cowan University, Australia
  • Finn Marsland Ski & Snowboard Australia, Australia
  • David Martin Australian Institute of Sport, Australia
  • Dale Chapman Australian Institute of Sport, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2015.103.08

Keywords:

Maximal oxygen consumption, Ski-Ergometer, Exercise testing

Abstract

This study determined the validity and reliability of an incremental double poling protocol performed on a Concept II ski-ergometer and validated this against an existing treadmill ski-striding protocol. Ten well-trained male cross-country skiers (age: 19 ± 1.4 y; height: 182 ± 72 cm; body mass: 76.0 ± 10.8 kg, whole body VO2Peak: 5.2 ± 1.0 L.min-1; upper body VO2Peak: 4.6 ± 1.0 L.min-1; upper body:lower body ratio: 87.2 ± 5.6%) performed four VO2Peak tests; one treadmill ski-striding test and three double poling ski-ergometer tests over five days. Test-retest reliability of the ski-ergometer protocol was determined for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak). The ski-ergometer test showed excellent reliability for VO2Peak (L.min-1) (coefficient of variation [CV] = 1.9%, 95% confidence limit [95% CL] [1.2, 4.7]; r = 1.00, [0.96, 1.00]) and UBPPeak (W) (CV = 1.4%, [0.9, 3.4]; r = 1.00, [0.97, 1.00]). Very strong correlations existed between the ski-ergometer and the ski-striding protocol for VO2Peak (r = 0.95, [0.76, 0.99]). The upper body ski-ergometer test provided valid and reliable measurements of ski-specific upper body aerobic power in well-trained male cross-country skiers.

Funding

Australian Sports Commission Sport Innovation Research Fund

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alsobrook, N. G., & Heil, D. P. (2009). Upper body power as a determinant of classical cross-country ski performance. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 105(4), 633-641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0943-z

Bojsen-Møller, J., Losnegard, T., Kemppainen, J., Viljanen, T., Kalliokoski, K. K., & Hallén, J. (2010). Muscle use during double poling evaluated by positron emission tomography. J. Appl. Physiol., 109(6), 1895-1903. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00671.2010

Bortolan, L., Pellegrini, B., Finizia, G., & Schena, F. (2008). Assessment of the reliability of a custom built Nordic Ski Ergometer for cross-country skiing power test. J. Sports Med. & Phys. Fit., 48(2), 177-182.

Calbet, J. A. L., Gonzalez-Alonso, J., Helge, J. W., Søndergaard, H., Munch-Andersen, T., Boushel, R. (2007). Cardiac output and leg and arm blood flow during incremental exercise to exhaustion on the cycle ergometer. J. Appl. Physiol., 103(3), 969-978. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01281.2006

Carlsson, M., Carlsson, T., Hammarström, D., Tiivel, T., Malm, C., & Tonkonogi, M. (2012). Validation of physiological tests in relation to competitive performances in elite male distance cross-country skiing. J. Strength Cond. Res., 26(6), 1496-1504. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318231a799

Gaskill, S. E., Serfass, R. C., & Rundell, K. W. (1999). Upper body power comparison between groups of cross-country skiers and runners. Int. J. Sports Med., 20, 290-294. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-971133

Holmberg, H. C., Lindinger, S., Stöggl, T., Björklund, G., & Müller, E. (2006). Contribution of the legs to double-poling performance in elite cross-country skiers. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 38(10), 1853-1860. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000230121.83641.d1

Holmberg, H. C., Lindinger, S., Stöggl, T., Eitzlmair, E., & Müller, E. (2005). Biomechanical analysis of double poling in elite cross-country skiers. Med. Sci. Sports Exer., 37(5), 807-818. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000162615.47763.C8

Holmberg, H. C., & Nilsson, J. (2008). Reliability and validity of a new double poling ergometer for cross-country skiers. J. Sports Sci., 26(2), 171-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410701372685

Hopkins, W. G. (2000). Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sports Med., 30(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200030010-00001

Hopkins, W. G. (2004). Bias in Bland-Altman but not regression validity analyses. Sportscience, 8(June), 42-46.

Ingjer, F. (1991). Maximal oxygen uptake as a predictor of performance ability in women and men elite cross‐country skiers. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Spor., 1(1), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.1991.tb00267.x

Lindinger, S. J., Holmberg, H. C., Müller, E., & Rapp, W. (2009). Changes in upper body muscle activity with increasing double poling velocities in elite cross-country skiing. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 106(3), 353-363. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1018-5

Lindinger, S. J., Stöggl, T., Müller, E., & Holmberg, H. C. (2009). Control of speed during the double poling technique performed by elite cross-country skiers. Med. Sci. Sport Exer., 41(1), 210-220. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318184f436

Losnegard, T., Mikkelsen, K., Rønnestad, B., Hallén, J., Rud, B., & Raastad, T. (2011). The effect of heavy strength training on muscle mass and physical performance in elite cross country skiers. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports, 21(3), 389-401. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01074.x

Mahood, N. V., Kenefik, R. W., Kertzer, R., & Quinn, T. J. (2001). Physiological determinants of cross-country ski racing performance. Med. Sci. Sport Exer., 33(8), 1379-1384. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200108000-00020

Moran, P., Prichard, J. G., Ansley, L., & Howatson, G. (2012). The influence of blood lactate sample site on exercise prescription. J. Strength Cond. Res., 26(2), 563-567. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318225f395

Mygind, E., Larsson, B., & Klausen, T. (1991). Evaluation of a specific test in cross-country skiing. J. Sports Sci., 9(3), 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640419108729887

Nesser, T. W., Chen, S., Serfass, R. C., & Gaskill, S. E. (2004). Development of upper body power in junior cross-country skiers. J. Strength Cond. Res., 18(1), 63-71.

Rusko, H. (1987). The effect of training on aerobic power characteristics of young cross-country skiers. J. Sports Sci., 5(3), 273-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640418708729782

Saltin, B., Rådegran, G., Koskolou, M., & Roach, R. (2002). Skeletal muscle blood flow in humans and its regulation during exercise. Acta. Physiol. Scand., 162(3), 421-436. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-201X.1998.0293e.x

Sandbakk, Ø., Ettema, G., & Holmberg, H. C. (2014). Gender differences in endurance performance by elite cross-country skiers are influenced by the contribution from poling. Scand. J. Med Sci. Spor., 24(1), 28-33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2012.01482.x

Sandbakk, Ø., Ettema, G., Leirdal, S., & Holmberg, H. C. (2012). Gender differences in the physiological responses and kinematic behaviour of elite sprint cross-country skiers. Eur J. Appl. Physiol., 112(3), 1087-1094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2063-4

Saunders, P. U., Pyne, D. B., Telford, R. D., & Hawley, J. A. (2004). Reliability and variability of running economy in elite distance runners. Med. Sci. Sports Exer., 36(11), 1972-1976. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000145468.17329.9F

Sharkey, B. J., & Heidel, B. (1981). Physiological tests of cross-country skiers. JUS Ski Coaches Assoc, 5, 1-6.

Staib, J. L., Im, J., Caldwell, Z., & Rundell, K. W. (2000). Cross-country ski racing performance predicted by aerobic and anaerobic double poling power. J. Strength Cond. Res., 14(3), 282-288.

Stöggl, T., & Holmberg, H. C. (2011). Force interaction and 3D pole movement in double poling. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Spor., 21(6), e393-e404. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01324.x

Stöggl, T., Lindinger, S., & Müller, E. (2006a). Biomechanical validation of a specific upper body training and testing drill in cross-country skiing. Sports Biomech., 5(1), 23-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2006.9628223

Stöggl, T., Lindinger, S., & Müller, E. (2006b). Reliability and validity of test concepts for the cross-country skiing sprint. Med. Sci. Sports Exer., 38(3), 586-591. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000190789.46685.22

Wisloff, U., & Helgerud, J. (1998). Evaluation of a new upper body ergometer for cross-country skiers. Med. Sci. Sports Exer., 30(8), 1314-1320. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199808000-00021

Statistics

Statistics RUA

Published

2016-01-09

How to Cite

Govus, A., Marsland, F., Martin, D., & Chapman, D. (2016). Validity and reliability of an incremental double poling protocol in cross-country skiers. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 10(3), 827–834. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2015.103.08

Issue

Section

Technical Notes