Physiological parameters related to 10 km performance in competitive female race walkers

摘要

This study examined the physiologic determinants of 10 km performance in 10 female race walkers. Bivariate correlations were obtained between race pace and many of the physiologic variables previously shown to be predictive of running and race walking performance. In addition, four hypotheses specific to questions regarding the role of economy in race walking performance were tested. The primary hypothesis (tested using multiple regression) was that economy would explain a significant proportion of the variation in 10 km performance beyond that already explained by VO$sb2$ max and VO$sb2$OBLA. The secondary hypotheses were somewhat exploratory in nature. These tests were designed with the hopes of providing data helpful in reconciling the discrepant results reported in previous studies of race walking performance in regards to the relationship between economy and performance.;The physiologic parameter explaining the greatest proportion of variance in race walking performance was vVO$sb2$ max, a variable derived from VO$sb2$ max and multiple economy measures. The correlation between this derived variable and performance was r =.96 (p $<$.01). Statistically significant (p $<$.05) correlations were also obtained between performance and vOBLA, VO$sb2$OBLA, vLT, and %VO$sb2$ max. Economy explained 35% more of the variance in performance than had been explained by VO$sb2$ max and VO$sb2$OBLA in the multiple regression (with three missing cases). This additional explained variance was not statistically significant (F-change = 6.23,.05 $<$ p $<$.01).;Failure to reach significance in the multiple regression can be explained by the small sample size and/or restriction of the range in the dependent variable. For example, when economy values for the three missing cases (obtained by interpolation from economy values at the stages just before and just after the stage for which the data were lost) were used, the variance explained by adding economy was significant. The secondary hypotheses were not supported, possibly because of the absence of a statistically significant bivariate r between economy and performance.;When examining the results of this study in relation to other studies of race walking performance it appears that the relationship between economy and performance across studies differed depending on the homogeneity of the group studied with respect to both performance and VO$sb2$ max.