Exercise performance of collegiate rodeo athletes.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Athletic Performance

Background:

• Rodeo is an athletic competition requiring diverse physical demands.
• Limited research exists on the physiological profiles of college rodeo athletes.
• Understanding athlete health and performance is crucial for injury prevention and training optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the physical, hematologic, and exercise responses of college rodeo athletes.
• To compare physiological parameters across different rodeo event specializations (roughstock, steer wrestling, roping).
• To evaluate the cardiovascular disease risk profile of rodeo athletes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of maximal aerobic capacity, pulmonary ventilation, energy expenditure, heart rate, blood pressure, and lactate levels.
• Assessment of body composition (percent body fat, lean body mass) and reaction/movement time.
• Evaluation of blood chemistry and serum lipid profiles.

Main Results:

• No significant physiological differences were observed between male rodeo event groups.
• Steer wrestling athletes demonstrated greater body size and lean body mass.
• Rodeo athletes showed average to low risk for coronary heart disease based on body composition and lipid profiles.
• College rodeo athletes possess similar aerobic capacities but lower lean body mass and higher body fat compared to other intermittent-activity athletes.

Conclusions:

• Rodeo event specialization does not significantly impact key physiological markers.
• Rodeo athletes generally present a favorable cardiovascular health profile.
• Despite comparable aerobic capacity, rodeo athletes may benefit from improved body composition strategies.