Oxygen Consumption, Ventilatory Thresholds, and Work Zones in Nordic Walking Competitors

TL;DR

This study analyzes the heart rate and oxygen consumption patterns of Nordic walking competitors during a race to determine their training zones.

Contribution

The study provides empirical data on work zones during Nordic walking competitions using ventilatory thresholds and heart rate monitoring.

Findings

Most race sections had average heart rates in zone 2a (between VT1 and VT2).

Peak heart rates occurred in zone 3 (between VT2 and VO2max).

Heart rate data can help improve training and performance in Nordic walking.

Abstract

Background: Nordic walking (NW) is a physical sports activity that has been sufficiently studied from the point of view of health, but physiological and performance analyses have not been so much. Objectives: With this study, we intend to analyse the physical work areas, according to ventilatory thresholds, that occur during a NW competition. Methods: Four participants of different characteristics anthropometrics (weight 57.6–85.6 kg; height 165.8–178 cm; and fat percentage 14.5–21.5%) gender (3 males and 1 female) and age (15–57 years) who participated in the NW regional championship have been chosen, and their electrocardiographic tracing was recorded using a NUUBO® device throughout the race, obtaining average and maximum heart rates (HR) in eight sections of the circuit. Previously, in the laboratory, a maximal stress test was performed to determine the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory threshold (VT). With these data, four work areas were obtained. Results: Most of the sections of the circuit were conducted with average HRs in zone 2a (above average between VT1 and VT2 but below VT2) and peak HRs in zone 3 (between VT2 and VO2max). Conclusions: We conclude that, with the data collected on HR, VO2max, and VT, the training zones obtained can be related to the heart rates in the different sections of the circuit. This can be used to improve the sports performance of the walkers.

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