Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

GENDER COMPARISONS OF RESPONSES TO UPPER BODY STRENGTH TRAINING IN ADOLESCENT CROSS-COUNTRY SKIERS

2001; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 33; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00005768-200105001-00057

1530-0315

S Chen, Steven E. Gaskill, Thomas W. Nesser, A. J. Walker, R. C. Serfass,

Physical Education and Training Studies

This study investigated gender differences in the development of upper body strength and power in 55 adolescent cross-country skiers. Twenty-four males (age = 16.0 +/− 1.2 years, height = 175.0 +/− 5.4 cm, weight = 66.1 +/− 5.4 kg) and 31 females (age = 14.7 +/− 1.5 years, height = 162.1 +/− 5.2 cm, weight = 53.2 +/− 6.9 kg) participated in upper body strength training 3x/wk for 10 weeks of supervised followed by 10 weeks of unsupervised training. Strength was tested on a Vasa Cross-country Ski Trainer. Power was tested on a Ergometrix Freecycle 7 Arm Ergometer. Training modes included weight training, roller board training, circuit training and roller skiing supplemented with hill bounding, poles hops and plyometrics. Males increased relative strength more than females (0.94 +/− 0.08 vs. 0.06 +/− 0.05 kgm/kg) while females improved relative power equal to that of males (0.26 +/− 0.23 vs. 0.27 +/− 0.23 watts/kg respectively). Training changes occurred within the supervised training and were maintained during the unsupervised period. The ability of the female skiers to exhibit equal relative power gains even though males exhibited greater relative strength gain may suggest that the gains by females are more associated with increased muscle fiber recruitment or increased efficiency of movement in testing.