Determining Physiological and Energetic Demands during High-Level Pommel Horse Routines Using a Modified Method Based...

This study aimed (1) to assess the validity of a modified method (M_mod) based on heart rate (HR)-oxygen uptake (VO₂) regression functions to calculate total energy costs (W_total) and aerobic (W_aer) and anaerobic alactic energy contribution (W_pcr) and (2) to analyse the physiological and energetic demands of high-level pommel horse routines (PH routines). The M_mod was developed because VO₂ measurements are limited during high-level PH routines. Answering Part 1, nine male artistic gymnasts performed a PH routine where energy costs were calculated from VO₂ measurements and then compared with energy costs determined from the HR- VO₂ regressions of M_mod's two additional tests. Using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Deming regression, W_aer (CCC = 0.955), W_pcr (CCC = 0.999), and W_total (CCC = 0.990) show substantial to almost perfect validity without constant or proportional bias. Data from eight further gymnasts performing a high-level PH routine and a graded exercise test (GXT), as well as four data sets from Part 1, were used to determine physiological and energetic demands using M_mod. VO₂ and HR during PH routines reached 86.1% and 90.4% of the maximal values during GXT. W_pcr was 47.0%, anaerobic lactic energy contribution (W_blc) was 29.7%, and W_aer was 23.3% of W_total required during PH routines. Summarising the energetic demands of high-level PH routines, they are mainly anaerobic, where W_pcr provides the largest energy share. W_aer provides a substantial part of W_total and should therefore also be specifically trained.