Comparative analysis of perceived exertion and objective physiological standards of load intensity in the exercise test among skilled cross-country skiers

Aim. The paper aims to compare the measurements of perceived exertion with those of objective physiological norms of load intensity by using the lactate (La) data obtained in the ski ergometer test and the treadmill test with respect to the five-zone aerobic intensity scale (Table 1). Materials and methods. The athletes were asked to participate in a psychophysiological assessment based on the Borg scale. The assessment included five stages, three minutes each. Each stage also assumed an increase in load intensity in accordance with the five-zone aerobic intensity scale. The Concept2 SkiErg (USA) training tool with the system of continuous motion and the Assault Runner (USA) treadmill with the Stryd power meter synchronized with the PerfPRO (USA) training software (ANT + system) were used for the purpose of the study. The exercise test was performed with simultaneous lactate (La) measurement. The study sample consisted of 20 skilled cross-country skiers (n = 20; age (M ± 5) - 19.65 ± 0.80 years; body weight - 69.78 (M ± 5) ± 6.14 kg; body length (M ± 5) - 176.14 ± 6.09 cm; fat mass (M ± 5) - 10.41 ± 4.23%; BMI (M ± 5) - 22.51 ± 1.99). Statistical analysis of the study results was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics v. 23. The study took place at the Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service of the South Ural State University (Russia, Chelyabinsk) at the beginning of the preparatory period (May). Results: statistical assessment of the results obtained with the Shapiro-Wilk test allowed to identify that the lowest values of the SkiErg exercise test were found at the anaerobic threshold (AnT, intensity zone 4) (W, p = 0.054) and within the aerobic intensity zone 1 (W, p = 0.008). Conclusion: a 10-point scale with evenly distributed lactate values can be used for subjective assessment of aerobic physical activity. The inability of athletes to assess themselves in terms of functional fitness allowed to identify their tactical level and expected physical performance. From a physiological point of view, further improvement of aerobic performance can be achieved through the increase of aerobic power of arm, trunk and leg muscles.