Alexander Bolotin

Peripheral circulation indicators in veteran trail runners

[Purpose] Competitive sport places strict demands on the cardiovascular systems of veteran trail runners. Our research objective was to evaluate the dynamics of microcirculation parameters of veteran runners in hypoxic and mid-altitude conditions. [Subjects and Methods] Seven male runners from Russia and Italy between the ages of 50 and 60 years were examined whilst competing at mid-altitude (1,500–2,000 m above sea level). The same runners were examined in a simulated mid-altitude hypoxic environment, which was a hypoxic chamber with 16% oxygen concentration, for 720 minutes. Under both conditions, peripheral circulation was studied using a laser Doppler flowmeter attached to the distal phalange of the second finger of the subject’s right hand. All subjects had a microcirculation parameter assessed, which was the standard deviation of the erythrocytes flow vibration in peripheral circulation, under both conditions. In order to assess the intensity of vasomotor reactions of the microcirculatory vessels, the coefficient of variation was used. [Results] In the hypoxic environment, a decrease in the microcirculation parameter was noted in the short-term (360 minutes), with a subsequent compensatory increase in the long-term (720 minutes). However, the coefficient of variation showed a reverse trend with an increase in the vasomotor activity of microvessels from 12.4% to 18.2% at the stage of maximum training load within one month in the mid-altitude in the hypoxic environment, with a consequent reduction in preparation for the start. [Conclusion] In the hypoxic environment, the subjects demonstrated a two-stage change in the dynamics of the microcirculation parameter: an initial fall and a subsequent increase reaching the initial values. Similar changes were found when subjects were competing at mid-altitude. Our results show that the assessment of the peripheral circulation in a simulated mid-altitude hypoxic environment can be used to determine the readiness of veteran sportsmen for long-term trail running in mid-altitude conditions.

Comparative analysis of myocardium repolarization abnormalities in female biathlon athletes with different fitness levels

The problem of studying the heart rate regulation is the most important in the assessment of functional readiness of female athletes to competitive activity. It was found that the main indicator of the fitness degree of the female biathlon athletes is clear consistency between the nervous and hormonal components of the heart rate regulation. Harmonization of both components of the heart rate regulation indicates high adaptive possibilities of the female athletes’ organism to the loads. The heart rate regulation was studied with the help of the three-channelled electrocardiograph “Axion”. “Varikard 2.51” was used to study the cardiointervalograms. It was established that myocardial repolarization abnormality in female athletes leads to misalignment between the two components of heart rate regulation and, as a consequence, to overtraining. It was revealed that the expressed misalignment between two components of heart rate regulation testifies to poor tolerance of physical loading by sportswomen. It was established that with the help of assessment of myocardium repolarization abnormalities in female athletes it is possible to estimate their functional reserves and effectively manage the training process, as well as to predict excessive physical loads at the early stages.

Reaction of vegetative nervous system to loads in female long-distance runners with different fitness level

In the course of research it was established that the female runner A with the high degree of vegetative nervous system parasympathetic division activity and the low degree of activity of the central regulation mechanisms with the increased activity of subcortical nervous centres had considerable advantage over the female runner B with high activity of the vegetative nervous system sympathetic division. The high activity of the central control structures taking into account the increased vegetative nervous system parasympathetic division activity in the female runner A indicates the high reserve capacity of the organism and the economical energy consumption during the running loads. It was revealed that the dynamics of heart rate regulation after the functional tests with physical loads is manifested in the change of the vegetative nervous system parasympathetic division tonicity. It affects the time-period of respiratory waves manifestation. The female runner A with the high fitness degree demonstrated the decreasing time-period compared to the female runner B with the low level of fitness.

Method for Training of Long Distance Runners Taking into Account Bioenergetic Types of Energy Provision for Muscular Activity.

The paper shows that the improved training process quality can be achieved by the use of different methods for training of long-distance runners taking into account peculiarities of energy provision for their muscular activity. The essence of these methods consists in the following: for sportsmen with “aerobic type” of provision for their muscular activity, tempo endurance should be developed, mainly, by the method of standard continuous exercise and speed endurance should be developed by the repetition method; for sportsmen with “anaerobic type” of provision for their muscular activity, tempo endurance should be developed, mainly, by the method of standard interval exercise and speed endurance should be developed by the submaximal effort method with standardized number of repetitions of sections covered; for sportsmen with “mixed type” of provision for their muscular activity, tempo endurance should be developed, mainly, by the method of variable continuous exercise and speed endurance should be developed by the combination of the repetition method and submaximal effort method with standardized number of repetitions of sections covered.