Research article - (2019)18, 798 - 804
The Relationship between General Upper-Body Strength and Pole Force Measurements, and Their Predictive Power Regarding Double Poling Sprint Performance
Esther Mende, Ansgar Schwirtz, Florian K. Paternoster
Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Esther Mende
✉ MSc Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 62, 80992 Munich, Germany
Email: Esther.Mende@mri.tum.de
Received: 17-06-2019 -- Accepted: 18-10-2019
Published (online): 19-11-2019

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there is an increasing importance of double poling (DP) performance regarding the outcome in classic cross-country skiing (XCS) races. So far, different approaches were used to predict DP performance but there is a lack of knowledge how general strength parameters are related to DP performance parameters gathered from in field-test situations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between general strength measurements of different upper-body segments and pole force measurements during a DP sprint exercise. In addition, multiple linear regressions were calculated to determine the predictive power of theses variables regarding DP sprint performance, represented as maximum velocity. Thirteen none-elite cross-country skiers performed two 60 m DP sprints at maximal speed on a tartan track using roller skis. In addition, maximum isometric and concentric strength tests were performed on a motor-driven dynamometer with four major upper-body segments (trunk flexion / extension, shoulder / elbow extension). Especially the mean pole force and the strength test parameters correlated significantly (r ≥ 0.615) in all except one comparison. However, regression analyses revealed that neither pole force parameters (R² = 0.495) nor isometric (R² = 0.456) or dynamic (R² = 0.596) strength test parameters could predict the DP performance significantly. This study showed that standardized isokinetic strength tests could be used to estimate pole force capabilities of XCS athletes. However, pole-force and strength test parameters failed to predict significantly maximal velocity during a DP sprint exercise, which might be attributed to the non-elite subject group.

Key words: XCS, cross-country skiing, DP, isokinetic strength test, pole force measurements, field-test condition

Key Points
  • Pole force during DP sprint performance and general upper-body strength correlate to each other significantly in recreational skiers.
  • DP sprint performance can neither be predicted by pole force nor by upper-body strength parameters significantly.
  • Standardized isokinetic strength tests could be used to estimate pole force capabilities of xc-ski athletes.








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