DYNAMICS OF MORPHOFUNCTIONAL STATE IN FEMALE AEROBIC GYMNASTS OVER AN ANNUAL TRAINING CYCLE

Abstract

Aim. This study aimed to investigate the age dynamics of functional state in female aerobic gymnasts during puberty. Materials and methods. The study involved three female athletes from the Tyumen youth team in aerobic gymnastics, each with over 7 years of training experience. Physiological assessments included maximum oxygen consumption and aerobic/anaerobic thresholds, measured using the Quark CPET system (Cosmed) and a Lado treadmill. An incremental step load testing protocol was employed to evaluate these parameters. Results. During the study period, the athletes exhibited an average increase in body mass of 9 kg and body length of 7.2 cm, which was below the reference values for girls aged 11–13 years. Peak oxygen uptake values varied among the athletes. Athletes 1 and 2 demonstrated values of 43.2 and 41 ml/min/kg, respectively, aligning with the average VO_2max levels observed in gymnastic sports. Athlete 3 consistently exhibited lower values, ranging from 36 to 36.9 ml/min/kg throughout the study. Athlete 2 achieved the aerobic threshold at 10 km/h (VO₂ = 30 ml/min/kg), while athletes 1 and 3 achieved this threshold at 8 km/h (VO₂ = 32 and 31 ml/min/kg, respectively). The anaerobic threshold was observed at 12 km/h (VO₂ = 40 ml/min/kg) for Athlete 2, while Athletes 1 and 3 reached it at 10 km/h, indicating a more efficient cardiovascular response in Athlete 2. Conclusion. The results obtained are consistent with previous research, confirming a decline in functional capabilities among female athletes during puberty. This study contributes to research on age-specific functional state indicators in aerobic gymnasts, providing a foundation for developing model characteristics and a computer-based software product with a virtual assistant to optimize training processes in gymnastic sports.