Muscle bioenergetics in skiers: studies using NMR spectroscopy

Sedentary human subjects (n = 6) and two homogeneous groups of athletes, trained for down-hill skiing (n = 5) and cross-country skiing (n = 7), were subjected to cardiorespiratory testing and to evaluation of the bioenergetics of calf muscles by means of Phosphorus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. The exercise consisted of successive plantar flexions performed at graded fractions of the maximal voluntary contraction force. It appears from this study that the decrease in phosphocreatine level induced by exercise at 80% of maximal voluntary contraction, was smaller in the muscles of athletes who trained for cross-country skiing, than in the muscles of down-hill skiers and control subjects. Intracellular acidosis was virtually absent in cross-country athletes. The rate of restitution of phosphocreatine, after the exercise, was higher in both groups of skiers, compared to sedentary subjects. The maximal oxygen consumption and the maximal alactic power were higher in athletes than in sedentary subjects. NMR data and mechanical measurements are used in consideration with functional systemic indexes to characterize the capabilities of skiers.