Anaerobic and Aerobic Power in Arms and Legs of Elite Senior Wrestlers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize anaerobic power and aerobic power (power at peak oxygen uptake, or peak V̇O₂) of elite senior (post-collegiate) wrestlers. Subjects (n = 14) from the U.S. national senior freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling teams were evaluated at separate tests using cycle ergometry for peak V̇O₂ of the arms, peak V̇O₂ of the legs, arm anaerobic peak power, and leg anaerobic peak power. Power output at peak V̇O₂ was recorded for each test and compared to the anaerobic power of the appropriate body segment. The results (mean ± SD) showed that wrestlers produced 2.3 ± 0.4 W· kg body weight^-1 at arm peak V̇O₂ (43.7 ± 4.6ml · kg body weight^-1 · min^-1), 4.2 ± 0.5 W · kg body weight^-1 at leg peak V̇O₂ (50.9 ± 5.1ml · kg body weight^-1 · min^-1), arm PP of 7.7 ± 1.0 W · kg body weight^-1, and leg PP of 10.5 ± 1.7 W · kg body weight^-1. Comparing power output during anaerobic and aerobic tests, the subjects performed at 3.4 ± 0.6 times their peak oxygen uptake during arm anaerobic ergometry, whereas leg anaerobic peak power was 2.7 ± 0.4 times the power at peak oxygen uptake for the legs (p < 0.05 for difference between ratios). Conclusion: relative to aerobic power, elite senior wrestlers may produce power anaerobically in the upper body at significantly higher levels than in the lower body.

Key words

Elite athlete - freestyle wrestling - Greco-Roman wrestling - peak V̇O₂ - Wingate power test