INTRODUCTION: Upper body aerobic and/or anaerobic capacity has recently gained importance in cross-country ski races (Millet, Boissiere, and Candau, 2003). Aerobic metabolic capacity assessed during running with the aid of poles on a treadmill (whole body work) indicated that sufficient upper body aerobic capacity may produce good efficiency; this is because low upper body capacity Imposes a relatively high burden on arms and legs, resulting in higher lactate levels in the muscles and blood. This study has been conducted to investigate the effects of 6 months of upper body training in conjunction with general aerobic training on aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, and the energy cost of pole running in cross-country skiers. METHOD: Nine collegiate cross-country skiers (men, 20.1 ±1.0 years) participated in this study. They underwent upper body training for 6 months in conjunction with general aerobic training for cross-country skiers. Upper body training included repeated arm pulling exercises with weight resistance to the nearest all-out level for 3 sets, 2 d/wk, and double poling with roller skis on flat to uphill terrains for 90 min, 2 d/wk. Aerobic metabolic capacity, muscle endurance capacity, and the energy cost of pole running were measured before and after the training. Muscle endurance capacity was evaluated as the repeated number of arm pulling exercises with the load to all-out. The loads selected were those that the subjects were capable of lifting almost 50 times and this loads were the same before and after the training. The arm pulling velocity was not fixed. The energy cost during pole running was regarded as the oxygen uptake calculated as follows: actual oxygen uptake - estimated oxygen uptake that was measured at the exercise intensity as 2 mmol/l of blood lactate during pole running on a treadmill in the first test. RESULTS: Changes in measured Parameters are listed in Table 1. DISCUSSION & CONCLUS1ON: Although aerobic capacity and muscle endurance increased, the energy cost of pole running did not improve in this study. It is speculated that improved upper body muscle endurance by upper body training may not always improve the efficiency of cross-country skiing in a manner similar to that achieved by whole body exercise.
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