C. Rolf et al., AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC WORK CAPACITIES AND LEG MUSCLE CHARACTERISTICS IN ELITE ORIENTEERS, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 7(1), 1997, pp. 20-24
Aerobic and anaerobic work capacities, leg muscle structure and metabo
lic characteristics of m. vastus lateralis (NT), m. rectus femoris (RG
) and mm. gastrocnemii (NT and RG) were analysed in five male and seve
n female elite orienteers from the Swedish National team (NT) and a re
ference group (RG) of eight male and 10 female upcoming orienteers, al
l in optimal shape at the end of a competitive season. Maximal oxygen
uptake was 78.4 ml/kg/min for NT men (range 75-81) and 67.8 ml/kg/min
for NT women (range 62-71), for both groups significantly higher (P<0.
001) than for RG. Maximal serum lactate was 13.3 mmol/l for NT men (ra
nge 10-17) and 11.7 mmol/l for NT women (range 8.4-14), which did not
differ from RG. No significant correlation was found between maximal o
xygen uptake and maximal serum lactate. For NT females only maximal ox
ygen uptake was significantly related to running economy (P<0.01). Mus
cle biopsies showed a high content of type I fibres in m. vastus later
alis as well as in m. gastrocnemius mediale. M. vastus lateralis (NT)
had a higher proportion of type I fibres, capillaries per fibre as wel
l as CS, HAD and LDH 1-2 enzymes compared with m. rectus femoris (RG)
(P<0.01-<0.001), the latter muscle showing a more anaerobic profile. N
T males and females had a higher metabolic potential in m. gastrocnemi
us mediale than RG (P<0.001). Our results reflect an obligate high and
narrow range of aerobic and anaerobic work capacities for successful
performance in international elite orienteering. It remains to be show
n how these laboratory data are related to individual performance in a
uthentic orienteering competitions.