AUTHOR=Carlsson Tomas , Fjordell Wilma , Wedholm Lars , Swarén Mikael , Carlsson Magnus 

TITLE=The Modern Double-Poling Technique Is Not More Energy Efficient Than the Old-Fashioned Double-Poling Technique at a Submaximal Work Intensity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.850541

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2022.850541

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p>The purpose of the study was to investigate whether there are energy-efficiency differences between the execution of the old-fashioned double-poling technique (DP<sub>OLD</sub>) and the modern double-poling technique (DP<sub>MOD</sub>) at a submaximal work intensity among elite male cross-country skiers. Fifteen elite male cross-country skiers completed two 4-min tests at a constant mechanical work rate (MWR) using the DP<sub>MOD</sub> and DP<sub>OLD</sub>. During the last minute of each test, the mean oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub>) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were analyzed, from which the metabolic rate (MR) and gross efficiency (GE) were calculated. In addition, the difference between pretest and posttest blood-lactate concentrations (BLa<sub>diff</sub>) was determined. For each technique, skiers' joint angles (i.e., heel, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow) were analyzed at the highest and lowest positions during the double-poling cycle. Paired-samples <italic>t</italic>-tests were used to investigate differences between DP<sub>MOD</sub> and DP<sub>OLD</sub> outcomes. There were no significant differences in either VO<sub>2</sub>mean, MR, GE, or BLa<sub>diff</sub> (all <italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05) between the DP<sub>MOD</sub> and DP<sub>OLD</sub> tests. DP<sub>MOD</sub> execution was associated with a higher RER (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Significant technique-specific differences were found in either the highest and/or the lowest position for all six analyzed joint angles (all <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001). Hence, despite decades of double-poling technique development, which is reflected in the significant biomechanical differences between DP<sub>OLD</sub> and DP<sub>MOD</sub> execution, at submaximal work intensity, the modern technique is not more energy efficient than the old-fashioned technique.</p>