Evaluation of a new upper body ergometer for cross-country skiers

A new specific ski ergometer has been developed to study aerobic endurance and force development in the upper body of cross-country skiers. The major purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and the reliability of this ergometer. Eleven male cross-country skiers participated in the study. Work on the ski ergometer, at an inclination of 4 degrees, incorporated the double-poling technique. All subjects participated in three tests in addition to a pretest where peak oxygen uptake in the upper body ((V) over dot O-2peak) and maximal oxygen uptake during treadmill running ((V) over dot O-2max) were measured. In a field-test, subjects performed double poling uphill, and (V) over dot O-2peak was reached after 4-6 min. There was no statistically significant differences in power output (Watt) or oxygen uptake ((V) over dot O-2) at the same exercise stages between tests and the coefficient of variation was 2.0% and 2.5%, respectively. There were no significant differences between (V) over dot O-2peak as measured in the field and on the ski ergometer. The average upper body/leg ratio was 90% (range 78.1-97.1%). There was no significant correlation between (V) over dot O-2max and (V) over dot O-2peak. The present study showed the ski ergometer to be both reliable and valid for evaluating (V) over dot O-2 and force development in the upper body at submaximal and maximal workloads for cross-country skiers.