8083
document
Changes in selected fitness parameters following six weeks of snowshoe training . BACKGROUND Recently , there has been an increase in popularity and participation in the sport of snowshoeing . While the sport has gained considerable recognition , to date there is little or no scientific research regarding training responses to snowshoeing as a form of exercise . Therefore , the purpose of this study was to determine whether snowshoe training could improve fitness measures . A further purpose was to compare responses from a snowshoe training program to a similarly designed run training program . METHODS This prospective , comparative study was conducted with healthy males and females between the ages of 19 and 24 . These subjects were recruited from the University of Vermont population and surrounding community . Following baseline measurements in VO2max , running time to exhaustion ( RTE ) , and anthropometry , 17 subjects ( 10 snowshoers and 7 runners ) participated in a six week conditioning program . Both groups exercised for 30 min at 75-85 % age predicted maximum heart rate , 3-4 times per week , for a total of 18 sessions . RESULTS VO2max improved significantly in both running and snowshoeing groups , 6.3 and 8.5 % , respectively . Run time to exhaustion also improved significantly in both groups , 23.3 and 33.5 % , respectively . There were no changes in anthropometry for either group . With the exception of RTE , there were no statistically significant differences between groups in any other measurements at baseline . CONCLUSIONS These results support the acceptability of snowshoeing as a valid means to improve or maintain cardiovascular endurance .
8084
Intervention_Physical
snowshoe training
8085
Intervention_Physical
snowshoeing
8086
Intervention_Physical
snowshoe training program
8087
Intervention_Control
run training program
8088
Outcome_Physical
fitness parameters
8089
Outcome_Other
training responses
8090
Outcome_Physical
fitness measures .
8091
Outcome_Physical
VO2max ,
8092
Outcome_Other
running time to exhaustion ( RTE )
8093
Outcome_Physical
, and anthropometry
8094
Outcome_Physical
anthropometry
8095
Outcome_Physical
cardiovascular endurance .
8096
Participant_Condition
healthy
8097
Participant_Sex
males
8098
Participant_Sex
females
8099
Participant_Age
19 and 24
8100
Participant_Sample-size
17