Diurnal oscillations of the sprint and strength abilities and shooting precision in biathlon

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the daily optimum and the
daily pesimum of running speed performance, explosive strength
of lower limbs and dynamic strength of upper limbs performance
and performance of the shooting precision by the biathlete at the
beginning of the preparation period of annual training cycle
2015/2016 (age 30.6, body height 170 cm, body weight 64.6 kg).
The diagnostics we carried out in laboratory conditions, for 7
days in three-hour intervals (9 o`clock – 12 o`clock – 15 o`clock –
18 o`clock). Running speed was measured with the device Fitro
Light Gates (FiTRONIC, Bratislava, Slovak republic). The
criterion for the performance assessment was the running time,
achieved over the distance of 30 m with the exactness of 0.01 s.
The explosive strength of lower limbs was diagnosed by Myotest
(Myotest, Switzerland). The criterion for the performance
assessment was the average height of five vertical jumps in cm
with the exactness of 0.1 cm. The dynamic strength of upper
limbs was diagnosed by the training simulator Concept 2 SkiErg
(Morrisville, USA). The criterion for assessing was the achieved
power, presented in Watts, with an accuracy of 1 W. The
shooting precision was diagnosed by electronic shooting
simulator Scatt Professional (Scatt, Russian Federation). The
criterion for the level assessment was the total point value of 10
shots with an accuracy of 0.1 point. Performances in shooting
were diagnosed separately for shooting in prone and standing
positions. In the running test we examined the optimum at 6 PM
(5.19 ± 0.04 s) and pesimum at 3 PM (5,36 ± 0,12). In the
shooting test we determined the optimum at 12 AM (prone
position: 103.1 ± 1.2 points; standing position: 92.0 ± 6.1 points)
and the pesimum at 9 AM (prone position: 99,9 ± 4,7 points;
standing position: 89,7 ± 2,6 points). In both of tests of strength
abilities we determined the optimum at 6 PM (Concept2 SkiErg:
222.1 ± 11.8 W; Myotest: 33.4 ± 1.1 cm) and pesimum at 3 PM
(Concept2 SkiErg: 192 ± 13,1 W; Myotest: 32,1 ± 1,4 cm). The
statistical analysis was realized by software IBM® SPSS®
Statistics V19 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) a R
Project. Significant differences were noticed in upper limbs
strength abilities (Concept 2), where the measured values for
power p < 0.05, Kendall ́s W = 0.89, effect size very strong,
running time in 30 m, where p < 0.05, Kendall ́s W = 0.48, effect
size moderate, vertical jump, where p < 0.05, Kendall ́s W = 0.44,
effect size moderate. In shooting skills there weren`t noticed the
significant differences among four times during the day.