RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Physiological demands of elite cross-country skiing during a real competition A1 Gonzalez Millan, Cristina A1 Pérez Brunicardi, Darío A1 Salinero Martín, Juan José A1 Lara López, Beatriz A1 Abián Vicén, Javier A1 Areces Corcuera, Francisco A1 Ruiz Vicente, Diana Belén A1 Soriano Segarra, Lidón A1 Coso Garrigós, Juan del K1 Performance K1 Athletes K1 Esquí K1 Deporte - Fisiología K1 Sports - Physiological aspects K1 Deportes AB The aim of this study was to assess different physiological variables before and after a 5-km (women) and 10-km (men) cross-country skiing competition to determine potential mechanisms of fatigue. Fourteen elite-level skiers competed in an official cross-country skiing competition using the classical style (9 men and 5 women). Instantaneous skiing velocity was measured during the race by means of 15-Hz global positioning system devices. Before and after the race, a sample of venous blood was obtained to assess changes in blood lactate and serum electrolyte and myoglobin concentrations. Prerace to postrace changes in blood oxygen saturation, forced vital capacity during a spirometry test, jump height during a countermovement jump, and handgrip force were also measured. Mean race speed was 15.8 ± 2.5 and 15.4 ± 1.5 km·h-1, whereas mean heart rate was 171 ± 6 and 177 ± 3 b·min-1 for men and women, respectively. There were no significant prerace to postrace changes in jump height, handgrip force, and forced vital capacity in men and women. Blood oxygen saturation was reduced from prerace to postrace in men (95.9 ± 2.1% to 93.1 ± 2.3%, p = 0.02) and women (97.8 ± 1.1% to 92.4 ± 2.1%, p < 0.01), whereas blood lactate concentration increased at the end of the race in men (1.4 ± 0.5 to 4.9 ± 2.1 mmol·L-1, p < 0.01) and women (1.9 ± 0.1 to 6.9 ± 3.2 mmol·L-1, p < 0.01). After the race, blood markers of muscle damage were at low concentrations, whereas serum electrolytes remained unchanged. Fatigue in 5- and 10-km cross-country skiing competitions was related to a reduced blood oxygen carrying capacity and presumably increased muscle and blood acidosis, whereas the influence of exercise-induced muscle damage on fatigue was minor. PB National Strength and Conditioning Association SN 1064-8011 YR 2017 FD 2017 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/53748 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/53748 LA eng NO Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, Vol. 31, Nº. 6, 2017, págs. 1536-1543 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 17-jul-2024