S56
Blood Ammonia Determination in a Specific Field Test as a Method Supporting Talent Selection in Runners W. Hageloch, S. Schneider, and H. Weicker
yet specifically trained for sprint or middle-distance run-
esting that the ammonia increase is dependent on the proportion and recruitment of the different muscle fiber types (2, 3, 5, 7, 21, 22). In a pilot study with students of physical education on a bicycle ergometer (10), we found a significantly higher ammonia increase during maximal exercise compared with prolonged endurance exercise. Katz and Sahlin (15) as well as Dudley et al. (7) demonstrated by means of muscle biopsies and blood ammonia determinations in humans that subjects with a high percentage of type I fibers produce less ammonia than those with a high portion of type II fibers.
fling performed a field test with distances of 25 m, 75 m, and 1000 m. Before the field test they were designated as sprinters (n = 19) and middle-distance runners (n 7) according
We expected, therefore, a differentiation between sprinters and middle-distance runners by means of
Abstract W. Hageloch, S. Schneider, and H. Weicker, Blood Ammonia Determination in a Specific Field Test as a Method Supporting Talent Selection in Runners. mt j Sport Med,Vol 11, Suppl2,ppS56—S61, 1990. Twenty-six male runners aged 14—16 years not
to their self-assessment and the estimation of the coaches. Blood ammonia and lactate concentrations were measured before and after the runs, and heart rates as well as the perceived exertion were evaluated. The most remarkable finding was a significantly higher ammonia increase in the sup-
blood ammonia determination during and after exercise. According to Howald (12), the genetic endowment of the muscle fiber types is of great importance in sprint events. A subject
posed sprinters after 75 m compared with the supposed middle-distance runners. The ammonia concentrations after 1000 m were considerably less pronounced in both
reach a high performance level. To improve talent selection in
groups and did not differ significantly. The ratio of the ammonia concentration after the 75-rn and the 1000-rn distance was defined as an index. A high index was typical for designated sprinters, whereas a low index was found in supposed middle-distance runners. The combination of this index and the assessment of the coaches makes it possible to recommend special training regimens. Key words
Ammonia, lactate, runners, talent selection,
with a high percentage of type II fibers is predestined to succeed in sprint events, and with optimal training he may runners, we therefore developed a test enabling us to select sprint talent. In preliminary investigations concerning this aim we could demonstrate a significantly higher ammonia increase in adult sprinters compared with middle-distance runners in a field test of 200 m. A maximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer, however, did not reveal this difference (30). It can be concluded from these results that a discipline-specific test is
more suitable for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of this test in 14- to 16-year-old runners, an age when discipline-specific training should be initiated. Material and Methods
index, purine nucleotide cycle
The anthropometric data of the runners and their latest records are given in Table 1. All runners belonged to the best of their age group on the regional level. The classifiIntroduction
Adenine nucleotide degradation via AMP deaminase in the muscle is now generally accepted as the origin of increased blood ammonia concentrations after exercise (1, 19, 20, 28, 34, 36, 37). Banister (1985), Terjung (1986),
and Sahlin (1988) have reviewed the manifold aspects of muscular ammonia production (4, 29, 31). For the practical application to sports medicine, it seems to us particularly inter-
Tnt.J. Sports Med. 11(1990) S56—561
Georgmieme Verlag StuttgartNew York
cation as sprinter or middle-distance runner was made by means of self-assessment, estimation of the coaches, and by the personal records on the different distance. The groups did not differ in age, height, weight, and training extent, but the middle-distance runners had a longer running experience of about 2 years. There were only minor differences in the training regimen, and the training was not specifically adjusted to sprint or middle-distance. The running distances of the field test were 25 m, 75 m, and 1000 m. There was an interruption of 45 mm be-
tween the races. The warm-up period before each race consisted of a standardized program. The 1000 m were performed without a final spurt, the 25 m and the 75 rn with maximal
Downloaded by: Queen's University. Copyrighted material.
Department of Sports Medicine and Pathophysiology, Medical Clinic and Policlinic, University of Heidelberg, FRG
mt. J. Sports Med. 11 (1990) S57
BloodAmmonia Determination in a SpecJIc Field Test
Age (years Height (cm)
Sprinters runners (n=19)
Middledistance
15.3±0.6 177.8±5.2
14.9±0.8 172.0±4.3
NS
63.2±14.8 2.7±1.7
54.1±8.3 4.6±1.9
NS
5.0±1.4 9.06±0.23 191.5±18.7
5.5±1.6 9.95±0.40 171.1±8.9
Weight (kg) Years of training Extent of training (hours/week) Record 75 m (s) Record 1000 m (s)
Significance
(n7)
25 m 75 m 1000 m
Middle-distance runners
(n=19)
(n7)
3.86±0.12 9.60±0.41 216.0±17.1
4.28±0.22 10.68±0.70 190.2±13.9
P< 0.05 NS P< 0.001
P< 0.01
Significance
P
Blood Ammonia Determination in a Specific Field Test as a Method Supporting Talent Selection in Runners W. Hageloch, S. Schneider, and H. Weicker
yet specifically trained for sprint or middle-distance run-
esting that the ammonia increase is dependent on the proportion and recruitment of the different muscle fiber types (2, 3, 5, 7, 21, 22). In a pilot study with students of physical education on a bicycle ergometer (10), we found a significantly higher ammonia increase during maximal exercise compared with prolonged endurance exercise. Katz and Sahlin (15) as well as Dudley et al. (7) demonstrated by means of muscle biopsies and blood ammonia determinations in humans that subjects with a high percentage of type I fibers produce less ammonia than those with a high portion of type II fibers.
fling performed a field test with distances of 25 m, 75 m, and 1000 m. Before the field test they were designated as sprinters (n = 19) and middle-distance runners (n 7) according
We expected, therefore, a differentiation between sprinters and middle-distance runners by means of
Abstract W. Hageloch, S. Schneider, and H. Weicker, Blood Ammonia Determination in a Specific Field Test as a Method Supporting Talent Selection in Runners. mt j Sport Med,Vol 11, Suppl2,ppS56—S61, 1990. Twenty-six male runners aged 14—16 years not
to their self-assessment and the estimation of the coaches. Blood ammonia and lactate concentrations were measured before and after the runs, and heart rates as well as the perceived exertion were evaluated. The most remarkable finding was a significantly higher ammonia increase in the sup-
blood ammonia determination during and after exercise. According to Howald (12), the genetic endowment of the muscle fiber types is of great importance in sprint events. A subject
posed sprinters after 75 m compared with the supposed middle-distance runners. The ammonia concentrations after 1000 m were considerably less pronounced in both
reach a high performance level. To improve talent selection in
groups and did not differ significantly. The ratio of the ammonia concentration after the 75-rn and the 1000-rn distance was defined as an index. A high index was typical for designated sprinters, whereas a low index was found in supposed middle-distance runners. The combination of this index and the assessment of the coaches makes it possible to recommend special training regimens. Key words
Ammonia, lactate, runners, talent selection,
with a high percentage of type II fibers is predestined to succeed in sprint events, and with optimal training he may runners, we therefore developed a test enabling us to select sprint talent. In preliminary investigations concerning this aim we could demonstrate a significantly higher ammonia increase in adult sprinters compared with middle-distance runners in a field test of 200 m. A maximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer, however, did not reveal this difference (30). It can be concluded from these results that a discipline-specific test is
more suitable for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of this test in 14- to 16-year-old runners, an age when discipline-specific training should be initiated. Material and Methods
index, purine nucleotide cycle
The anthropometric data of the runners and their latest records are given in Table 1. All runners belonged to the best of their age group on the regional level. The classifiIntroduction
Adenine nucleotide degradation via AMP deaminase in the muscle is now generally accepted as the origin of increased blood ammonia concentrations after exercise (1, 19, 20, 28, 34, 36, 37). Banister (1985), Terjung (1986),
and Sahlin (1988) have reviewed the manifold aspects of muscular ammonia production (4, 29, 31). For the practical application to sports medicine, it seems to us particularly inter-
Tnt.J. Sports Med. 11(1990) S56—561
Georgmieme Verlag StuttgartNew York
cation as sprinter or middle-distance runner was made by means of self-assessment, estimation of the coaches, and by the personal records on the different distance. The groups did not differ in age, height, weight, and training extent, but the middle-distance runners had a longer running experience of about 2 years. There were only minor differences in the training regimen, and the training was not specifically adjusted to sprint or middle-distance. The running distances of the field test were 25 m, 75 m, and 1000 m. There was an interruption of 45 mm be-
tween the races. The warm-up period before each race consisted of a standardized program. The 1000 m were performed without a final spurt, the 25 m and the 75 rn with maximal
Downloaded by: Queen's University. Copyrighted material.
Department of Sports Medicine and Pathophysiology, Medical Clinic and Policlinic, University of Heidelberg, FRG
mt. J. Sports Med. 11 (1990) S57
BloodAmmonia Determination in a SpecJIc Field Test
Age (years Height (cm)
Sprinters runners (n=19)
Middledistance
15.3±0.6 177.8±5.2
14.9±0.8 172.0±4.3
NS
63.2±14.8 2.7±1.7
54.1±8.3 4.6±1.9
NS
5.0±1.4 9.06±0.23 191.5±18.7
5.5±1.6 9.95±0.40 171.1±8.9
Weight (kg) Years of training Extent of training (hours/week) Record 75 m (s) Record 1000 m (s)
Significance
(n7)
25 m 75 m 1000 m
Middle-distance runners
(n=19)
(n7)
3.86±0.12 9.60±0.41 216.0±17.1
4.28±0.22 10.68±0.70 190.2±13.9
P< 0.05 NS P< 0.001
P< 0.01
Significance
P
