Design and validation of a multi-stage skating-specific test to predict aerobic power in competitive figure skaters

The goal of this study was the design and validation of a progressive skating test (PST) for competitive figure skaters. This consisted of two phases: design and validation of the on-ice protocol and an investigation of the validity and reliability of the Cosmed K4 collection instrument used to measure ventilatory data during the on-ice test. Two groups of subjects, one in California (n = 20) and one in Calgary (n = 7) completed two on-ice trials of the prospective PST and one cycle ergometer trial. The validation study used two additional groups of subjects (n = 9, n = 10, respectively) that completed four maximal cycle ergometer tests: two on the K4 instrument and two on the Horizon MMC metabolic cart. All of the tests were to exhaustion.; There was a linear increase in V˙O2 with skating speed and no significant difference in test-retest outcomes in repeated trials of the PST. However, a composite regression model was not determined because there was a significant difference in relative V˙O2 values (ml · kg-1 · min-1) determined for the California test subjects compared to the Calgary test subjects.; The V˙O2 max scores within each group were not different using the same instrument for the PST and maximal cycle ergometer tests.; The Cosmed K4 instruments validated in this study gave varying results. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...