Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T04:45:03.405Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The short-term development of performance and aerobic endurance following prolonged low-intensity ski trekking in Svalbard: A case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2022

Even Jarstad Open the ORCID record for Even Jarstad [Opens in a new window]  and
Asgeir Mamen
Even Jarstad*
Affiliation:
Norwegian Sport Medicine Clinic (Nimi, part of Volvat), Department of Cardiology and Exercise Physiology, Vitaminveien 1A, 0485Oslo, Norway Kristiania University College, School of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1190 Sentrum, 0107Oslo, Norway
Asgeir Mamen
Affiliation:
Kristiania University College, School of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1190 Sentrum, 0107Oslo, Norway
*
Author for correspondence: Even Jarstad, Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to examine the short-term development of performance and aerobic endurance following prolonged low-intensity ski trekking (LIST) in an Arctic region. Two male recreational athletes (aged 24 and 26 years) with high aerobic fitness performed LIST 7 ± 2 h·day−1 for 23 consecutive days, while hauling sledges (∼80 kg initially) with supplies from the north to the south of Svalbard (∼640 km). Time to exhaustion, maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), lactate threshold (LT) and work economy were evaluated at pre- and post-trek. The results showed that the absolute and relative exercise intensity during LIST were ∼3.9 km·h−1 and ∼60% of maximal heart rate, respectively. Time to exhaustion during a ∼4–6 min ramp walking test, and a >45 min stepwise walking test, while pulling 12.5 kg weights (simulation of ski trekking with loaded sledge), increased by 11–17% and 3–9%, respectively, following LIST. Body mass and V̇O2max relative to body mass (ml·kg−1·min−1) decreased by 5–8% and increased by 3–8%, respectively. Furthermore, the workload associated with LT and LT percentage of V̇O2max increased by 39–69% and 12–13%, respectively. No notable change in work economy was observed. The mean pace during LIST (∼3.9 km·h−1) corresponded to the treadmill walking speed (4 km·h−1) with the lowest oxygen cost (mL·kg−1·m−1) in both participants. It can be concluded that short-term prolonged LIST can improve ski trek-simulated performance and fractional utilisation of V̇O2max in recreational athletes with high aerobic fitness. Moreover, highly aerobically fit ski trekkers appear to instinctively choose the most energy-efficient pace during LIST.

Keywords

Polar expeditionLow-intensity exerciseTime to exhaustionLactate thresholdWork economy
Type
Research Note
Information
Polar Record , Volume 58 , 2022 , e21
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Booth, M. A., Thoden, J. S., Reardon, F. D., Jette, M., & Rode, A. (1991). The 1988 Polar Bridge Expedition: Effects of the three-month trans-polar ski-trek on aerobic fitness and skiing economy. Arctic Medical Research, Suppl, 542–544.Google ScholarPubMed
Borg, G. (1970). Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2(2), 92–98.Google ScholarPubMed
Boushel, R., Ara, I., Gnaiger, E., Helge, J. W., González-Alonso, J., Munck-Andersen, T., Sondergaard, H., … Calbet, J. a. L. (2014). Low-intensity training increases peak arm VO2 by enhancing both convective and diffusive O2 delivery. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England), 211(1), 122–134. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12258 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boushel, R., Gnaiger, E., Larsen, F. J., Helge, J. W., González-Alonso, J., Ara, I., Munch-Andersen, T., … Calbet, J. a. L. (2015). Maintained peak leg and pulmonary VO2 despite substantial reduction in muscle mitochondrial capacity. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 25 Suppl 4, 135–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12613 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Currell, K., & Jeukendrup, A. E. (2008). Validity, reliability and sensitivity of measures of sporting performance. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 38(4), 297–316.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edvardsen, E., Hansen, B. H., Holme, I. M., Dyrstad, S. M., & Anderssen, S. A. (2013). Reference values for cardiorespiratory response and fitness on the treadmill in a 20- to 85-year-old population. Chest, 144(1), 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.12-1458 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edvardsen, E., Hem, E., & Anderssen, S. A. (2014). End criteria for reaching maximal oxygen uptake must be strict and adjusted to sex and age: A cross-sectional study. PloS One, 9(1), e85276. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085276 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Enoksen, E., Shalfawi, S. A. I., & Tønnessen, E. (2011). The effect of high- vs. Low-intensity training on aerobic capacity in well-trained male middle-distance runners. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(3), 812–818. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cc2291 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Esfarjani, F., & Laursen, P. B. (2007). Manipulating high-intensity interval training: Effects on VO2max, the lactate threshold and 3000 m running performance in moderately trained males. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 10(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2006.05.014 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foss, Ø., & Hallén, J. (2005). Validity and stability of a computerized metabolic system with mixing chamber. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(7), 569–575. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-821317 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helge, J. W., Overgaard, K., Damsgaard, R., Sørensen, K., Andersen, J. L., Dyrskog, S. E. U., Hermansen, K., … Wojtaszewski, J. F. P. (2006). Repeated prolonged whole-body low-intensity exercise: Effects on insulin sensitivity and limb muscle adaptations. Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, 55(2), 217–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2005.08.015 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helgerud, J., Høydal, K., Wang, E., Karlsen, T., Berg, P., Bjerkaas, M., Simonsen, T., … Hoff, J. (2007). Aerobic high-intensity intervals improve VO2max more than moderate training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(4), 665–671. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3180304570 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helgerud, J., Ingjer, F., & Strømme, S. B. (1990). Sex differences in performance-matched marathon runners. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 61(5–6), 433–439.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ingjer, F. (1991). Factors influencing assessment of maximal heart rate. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 1(3), 134–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.1991.tb00285.x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarstad, E., & Mamen, A. (2019). The performance and aerobic endurance effects of high-intensity versus moderate-intensity continuous running. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism = Physiologie Appliquee, Nutrition Et Metabolisme, 44(9), 990–996. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0575 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Juhani, I., Pekka, S., & Timo, A. (1986). Strain while skiing and hauling a sledge or carrying a backpack. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 55(6), 597–603.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mamen, A, Laparidis, C, & van den Tillaar, R. (2011). Precision in estimating maximal lactate steady state performance in running using a fixed blood lactate concentration or a delta value from an incremental lactate profile test. International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences, 23(1), 212–224. https://doi.org/10.24985/ijass.2011.23.1.212 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parent, A.A., Martin, D., Morales, S., Boucher, J., & Comtois, A.S. (2018). XP-Antarctik expedition: The effect of a month-long expedition in Antarctica on physiological performance. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.7771/2327-2937.1093 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Péronnet, F., Abdelaoui, M., Lavoie, C., Marrao, C., Kerr, S., Massicotte, D., & Giesbrecht, G. (2009). Effect of a 20-day ski trek on fuel selection during prolonged exercise at low workload with ingestion of 13C-glucose. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 106(1), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-0987-8 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sandbæk, G., Steine, K., Røseth, A. G., Falch, J. A., & Steine, S. (1997). [Skiing over Greenland—Physical and psychological changes]. Tidsskrift for Den Norske Laegeforening: Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin, Ny Raekke, 117(8), 1104–1107.Google Scholar
Seiler, S., & Tønnessen, E. (2009). Intervals, thresholds, and long slow distance: The role of intensity and duration in endurance training. Sportscience, 13, 32–53.Google Scholar
Taylor, H. L., Buskirk, E., & Henschel, A. (1955). Maximal oxygen intake as an objective measure of cardio-respiratory performance. Journal of Applied Physiology, 8(1), 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1955.8.1.73 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tønnessen, E., Sylta, Ø., Haugen, T. A., Hem, E., Svendsen, I. S., & Seiler, S. (2014). The road to gold: Training and peaking characteristics in the year prior to a gold medal endurance performance. PloS One, 9(7), e101796. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101796 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed