PURPOSE This study aimed to develop and validate sex-specific maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) prediction equations for Korean elite athletes aged 10–20 years using physiological and fitness variables derived from the standardized KISS treadmill protocol. METHODS This study used data from 526 elite athletes (373 boys, 153 girls), including adolescents and adults in the Gyeongnam region. VO2max was measured over 2 years using the KISS protocol. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with measured VO2max as the dependent variable and age, height, body weight, body fat percentage, total exercise time, maximal heart rate (HRmax), and reasons for test termination as independent variables. RESULTS The regression equation for male athletes was: VO2max = 45.233 + (0.024 × total time) − (0.097 × body weight) − (1.260 × reason for termination) − (0.112 × body fat percentage). The regression equation for female athletes was: VO2max = 22.913 + (0.024 × total time) − (0.220 × body weight) + (0.106 × HRmax). When compared with five existing prediction models, the proposed equations demonstrated the highest correlation coefficients (male r = 0.743; female r = 0.749). The standard error of estimate for the developed models was 4.27 and 3.57 mL·kg−1·min−1 for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The sex-specific VO2max prediction equations developed in this study can serve as reliable alternative tools for evaluating cardiorespiratory endurance in elite athletes. Further research incorporating a broader range of physiological variables and age groups is warranted to validate and refine these models.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to find out the physical characteristics of Wushu athletes by comparing the differences on the results of physical fitness between the male athletes of the Wushu national team Taolu and the Sanda group. Methods Measurement of basic and professional fitness based on muscle function, targeting 37 men Wushu national team players (24 taolu, 13 Sanda) in the selection and evaluation contests twice in 2018 and 2019. Body composition, isometric muscle strength, flexibility and equilibrium, anaerobic power, and isokinetic muscle strength. The fitness factors were divided into two groups, Taolu and Sanda. Results First, body fat rate of the Sanda athlete group was significantly lower than that of the taolu athlete group (p<.01). Second, in the isometric muscle strength category(back muscle strength, grip strength), the Sanda athlete group had higher muscle strength than Taolu athlete group, but there was a statistically significant difference only in the left grip strength (p<.01). Third, in terms of flexibility and equilibrium, the taolu players were significantly higher in all items(p<.001). Fourth, in the anaerobic power, the taolu athlete group had higher both the peak power and the mean power, and there were a significant differences(peak power: p<.01, mean power: p<.001). Fifth, isokinetic muscle strength was significantly higher in the right knee flexion of the taolu athlete group (p<.01), and lumbar extensor muscle was significantly higher in the Sanda athlete group (p<.05). Sixth, in the isokinetic strength ratio, the knee flexion ratio of the Sanda athlete group were significantly higher on the left and right knee flexion and extensor ratios (p<.05). In addition, in the lumbar flexor and extensor ratios, the group of Sanda athlete group were significantly higher on the lumbar extensor(p<.05). Seventh, there was no significant difference between two groups in isokinetic muscle power. Conclusions The results of this study can be used as basic data to improve the efficiency of technical and physical training through the analysis of the characteristics of Taolu and Sanda. The effectiveness of this training will help to improve the performance.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the difference between ingestion of nutrition supplements for 8 weeks can regulate physical activities and fatigue recovery. Fifty one middle-aged women participated in this study and were divided into placebo, ingestion of 20g energy supplement and ingestion of 40g energy supplement groups. Energy supplement mainly consists of carbohydrates and proteins. All subjects take in this supplement one time per a day for 8 weeks. Physical activity and fatigue recovery were measured before and after ingestion of energy supplement for 8 weeks by using the Wingate anaerobic and a blood tests. In the Wingate anaerobic test, the peak power(p<.01) and average power(p<.05) were significantly increased in ingestion of 20 and 40g supplement groups compared to the placebo group. Although concentrations of lactate and growth hormone in the blood didn’t show a significant differences among groups, blood concentrations of cortisol and ammonia were further enhanced in ingestion of 20 and 40g supplement groups compared to the placebo group(p<.001). The results of present study provide evidence that energy supplement mixed with carbohydrates and proteins may be effective to increase physical activity as well as to reduce blood concentration of fatigue-related factors after exercise.
