Article
Research purpose: to identify the factor structure of the functional state of cross-country skiers and develop a method for integrating the assessment of fitness dynamics over the annual training cycle.
Methods and organization of research. The study involved cross-country skiers aged 18-20, with the qualification of Candidate Master of Sport. Testing was conducted every 6-8 weeks throughout the year. Hemodynamic parameters, heart rate variability, and bicycle ergometric load were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using factor analysis.
Research results and their discussion. Six factors were identified, explaining 84.3% of the total sample variance: "Autonomic Balance and Variability" (27.1%), "Cardiac Performance and Hemodynamics" (19.8%), "Aerobic Power" (14.2%), "Vascular Resistance and Tone" (10.5%), "Sympathetic Activity and Tension" (7.9%), and "Volemic and Chronotropic" (4.8%). An individual integrated factor score map was developed, allowing for tracking the dynamics of an athlete's condition from mesocycle to mesocycle and identifying borderline states of adaptive systems. Additionally, boundary values for factor scores were established for monitoring athletes' condition.
Conclusion. The proposed approach makes it possible to promptly identify deep signs of fatigue and overexertion, to purposefully adjust the training process at each stage of the annual cycle, which helps prevent adaptation failure and improve the effectiveness of training highly qualified athletes, as well as to predict the risk of developing maladaptive conditions and make timely adjustments to the training process.
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