Mygind, E., Larsson, B., & Klausen, T. (1991). Evaluation of a specific test in cross-country skiing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 9, 249-257.

Male cross-country skiers (N = 6) were tested on a running treadmill and a ski ergometer that allowed upper arm use in a double-polling action.

The upper body work reflected changes in upper body function from the start to the end of the skiing season. The relationships between upper body and leg maximal oxygen uptake was significant (89.4%), evidencing the overall training effects of ski training. The ski ergometer test was sensitive to training effects. The running treadmill test did not reflect training effects.

Implication. For a sport that uses upper body as well as legs in its performance, a running treadmill test would be inappropriate. The evaluation of oxygen transport in a sport has to be performed using a sport specific device and protocol.

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