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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
06:48
Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Body composition and performance in cross-country skiing.
P Larsson1, K Henriksson-Larsén
1Sports Medicine, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science, University of Umeå, Sweden. peter.larsson@idrott.umu.se
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|July 5, 2008
Summary
Elite cross-country skiers
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Human Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Cross-country skiing demands significant physiological and biomechanical contributions.
- Understanding the role of body composition is crucial for optimizing athlete performance.
- Previous research has explored various anthropometric factors in endurance sports.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between body composition and cross-country skiing performance.
- To identify specific body composition variables that correlate with skiing speed and overall time.
- To provide insights into the importance of lean body mass for elite skiers.
Main Methods:
- Ten male elite college-aged cross-country skiers completed a 5.6-km time trial.
- Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
- Speeds across different course sections were calculated using a differential global positioning system (dGPS).
Main Results:
- Total body weight and absolute lean body mass were significantly correlated with final race time.
- Absolute lean arm mass showed a negative correlation with final time.
- Relative lean arm mass was significantly related to speed, particularly on uphill sections.
Conclusions:
- Higher amounts of lean body mass, especially in the arms, are important for cross-country skiing performance.
- Lean arm mass appears to be a key factor influencing speed, particularly during climbing.
- These findings can inform training strategies for cross-country skiers aiming to improve performance.
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