The Effects of Cross-Country Skiing on Performance

A study by Ertemblad and colleagues in 2018 looked at 10 elite male cross-country skiers. They found a significantly higher proportion of type 1 fibers in the legs on average 58 percent than the arms which was on average 40 percent. The two skiers with the highest proportion of type 2A fibers in their arms and they had 70 and 72 respectively were successful sprint skiers. Next they discussed and investigate enzyme activities and they found that the maximal citrate synth phase activity of well-trained arm and leg muscles as is the case with these skiers was the same despite the higher type 1 dominance in the legs compared to the arms.