USE OF COMPETITIVE TESTS AS A METHOD OE PERFORMANCE RESEARCH

Abstract

A series of investigations made in connection with a national competition in woodcutting are described. Examples of different ways of distributing the working time to each phase of the work are given.

The skill of the competitors was assessed by trained experts. The grading of skill showed some tendency to covariation with the energetic efficiency of work and with the performance in competition. The competitors were taller than the average Finnish males, they had longer trunk length, longer arms and legs, broader shoulders, and a larger chest. The result in the competition showed significant positive correlations with hand length, hip width, leg length, stature, body weight, and chest depth. However, with relative body measures, i.e. measures divided by stature, no significant correlations were observed.

The mean daily caloric intake of the competitors was 5460 kcal. In addition, the competitors lost weight on an average by 1·2 kg. Two of the four days of the competition were half-days only. On these, the men ate on an average 487 kcal more daily than on the full working days. 46·6 per cent of the calories were obtained from carbohydrates, 41·6 per cent from fat, and 11·8 per cent from protein. The distribution of food and fluid intake over the course of the day is described.

The energy expenditure of work was assessed at 309 to 780 kcal per cubic metre from food intake. In gasometric determinations values from 216 to 297 kcal per cubic metre were obtained. In gasometric determinations the energy expenditure varied from 5·7 to 11·1 kcal per minute.

During work, the erythrocyte count and the haemoglobin concentration of the blood decreased. The leukocytes showed changes typical of adrenocortical stimulation. A factor analysis showed that the changes of the erythrocytes were closely associated with those of the eosinophils and of the lymphocytes. The sodium and chloride concentration of thermal sweat decreased during the competition.

The practical applications of the results are discussed.