Physiological Comparison of Roller Skating, Treadmill Running and Ergometer Cycling

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the metabolic and cardiorespiratory differences between treadmill running, ergometer cycling and roller skating in top level roller skaters. The subjects performed 3 discontinuous graded tests until exhaustion. The protocol was established so that heart rate kinetics during exercise were similar in all the tests. Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O₂max), maximal heart rate and exercise time to exhaustion were higher during running (p < 0.05) than during cycling. Blood lactate during sub-maximal and maximal running exercise was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than during cycling or roller skating. There were no differences between cycling and roller skating in any of the variables studied. These results seem to suggest that, compared with running, V̇O₂max during cycling is limited more by local muscle fatigue than by cardiac factors. The similar response found during roller skating and cycling supports the concept that cycloergometer testing is a valid simple laboratory test for testing physical fitness in top level roller skaters.

Key words

Maximal oxygen consumption - peak oxygen consumption - blood lactate - heart rate - roller skating