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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(12): 971-975
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038735
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Body Composition and Performance in Cross-Country Skiing

P. Larsson1 , K. Henriksson-Larsén1
  • 1Sports Medicine, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science, University of Umeå, Sweden
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision April 30, 2008

Publication Date:
03 July 2008 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between body composition and performance in cross-country skiing. Ten male college-aged elite cross-country skiers (17.9 yrs; S 1.0 yrs) participated in a 5.6-km cross-country skiing time trial and in dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Lunar DPX‐L, Madison, WI, USA) body composition measurements. A differential global positioning system (dGPS, GPS 12 CX, Garmin Int. Inc., Olathe, KS, USA; RXMAR 2, Aztec SA, Strasbourg, France) was used to compute speed in different sections of the course. Spearman correlation analyses were applied. Total body weight and absolute lean body mass were significantly related to final time (r = − 0.721; p < 0.05 and − 0.830; p < 0.01, respectively). Absolute lean arm mass (kg) was negatively correlated to final time (r = − 0.648; p < 0.05) and the relative lean arm mass was significantly related to speed mainly in uphill sections (r = 0.636 to 0.867; p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). We suggest that large amounts of lean body mass, especially in the arms, seem to be of great importance for cross-country skiing performance.

Key words

dGPS - DXA - absorptiometry - satellite - lean body mass

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Dr. Peter Larsson

Sports Medicine
Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science

90185 Umeå

Sweden

Fax: + 46 (0) 90 13 56 92

Email: peter.larsson@idrott.umu.se