Assessment of functional fitness in highly trained curlers

Aim. The paper aims to demonstrate the use of comprehensive diagnostics for the assessment of functional fitness in highly trained curlers. Materials and methods. The study took place among highly trained curlers at the pre-competitive mesocycle. The study involved 20 male and female athletes with a sports rank not lower than the master of sports. Athletic status, aerobic performance, and anaerobic threshold were assessed with the step test on a bicycle ergometer. The reactivity of the central nervous system and its receptor apparatus was measured, as well as the speed of motor reaction and orientation in space, differentiation tests were performed. Results. The assessment of functional performance in the fatigue test at anaerobic threshold allowed us to assess the maximum involvement of the oxidative system in muscular performance. The power of the work performed corresponded to glycolytic activity, which indicated insufficient energy reserves of highly trained curlers. In female curlers, less power was accompanied by more efficient gas exchange and a relatively low lactic acid level. In male athletes, higher power was provided by higher performance of the lactic system, which indicated high energy consumption. Female athletes had better space orientation compared to male athletes, which indicated insufficient special coordination abilities of the latter. Conclusion. The use of comprehensive diagnostics for highly trained curlers allowed us to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their energy system and coordination abilities. The assessment of physical fitness provided the information about the basic fitness parameters of athletes and the growth of their maximum aerobic capacities. The increase in maximum oxygen consumption results in an increase in aerobic metabolism and a decrease in the lactic acid function, which prevents the first symptoms of fatigue and forms coordination reserves as the foundation of neuromuscular performance.