Similarities and dissimilarities in response to specific submaximal aerobic exercise in newcomer and well-trained athletes

The study was aimed on evaluation the applicability of certain distinct characteristics of heart rate dynamics dependence upon physical training load as criteria of young athletes functional fitness. Nine elite adult canoe and kayak rowers and twenty five young skiers aged 11-13 took part in the research program. Canoe and kayak rowers performed incremental tests on a rowing simulator (4*1000 m). The following parameters were measured: heart rate, oxygen heart rate, breath frequency, respiratory exchange ratio, oxygen uptake, and minute ventilation. Young skiers performed moderate run on a stadium track maintaining constant speed to voluntary physical exhaustion. Comparison of the trends in young and elite athletes allows assuming that the response to the given load on the third segment of the test exceeded the current level of fitness and continuation of the exercise at this level can cause overstrain and overtraining. It has to be pointed out that this assumption requires further research with measurement of a broader range of parameters