Physiological and metabolic characteristics of elite tug of war athletes

Objective-To determine the aerobic power ((V)over-dot O(2)MAX), body compos ition, strength, muscular power, flexibility, and biochemical profile of an elite international squad of tug of war athletes. Methods-Sixteen male competitors (mean (SEM) age 34 (2) years) were evaluat ed in a laboratory. For comparative purposes, data were analysed relative t o normative data for our centre and to a group of 20 rugby forwards from th e Irish international squad. Results-The tug of war participants were lighter (83.6 (3.0) v 104.4 (1.8) kg, p<0.0001) and had less lean body mass (69.4 (2.1) v 86.2 (1.2) kg) than the rugby players and had lower than normal body fat (16.7 (0.9)%); all va lues are mean (SEM). Aerobic power measured during a treadmill test was 55. 8 (1.6) ml/kg/min for the tug of war participants compared with 51.1 (1.4) ml/g/min for the rugby forwards (p<0.03). A composite measure of strength d erived from (sum of dominant and non-dominant grip strength and back streng th)/lean body mass yielded a strength/mass ratio that was 32% greater (p<0. 0001) for the tug of war group than the rugby group. Dynamic leg power was lower for the tug of war group than the rugby forwards (4659.8 (151.6) v 61 98.2 (105) W respectively; p<0.0001). Leg flexibility was 25.4 (2.0) cm for the tug of war group. Back flexibility was 28.6 (1.4) cm which was lower ( p<0.02) than the rugby forwards 34.2 (1.5) cm. Whereas blood chemistry and haematology were normal, packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte volume were lower in the tug of war group than in the rugby pl ayers (p<0.05). All three haematological measures correlated with muscle ma ss (packed cell volume, r(2) = 0.37, p<0.0001; haemoglobin concentration, 0 .13, p<0.05; erythrocyte volume, r(2) = 0.21, P<0.01). Conclusions-The data indicate that international level tug of war participa nts have excellent strength and above average endurance relative to body si ze, but have relatively low explosive leg power and back flexibility. The d ata provide reference standards for the sport and may be useful for monitor ing and evaluating current and future participants.