Interrelations between the Constitution Type and Features of Muscular Activity Energetics in Sprinters and Stayers

Bicycle ergometric tests showed that the dominant type of muscular energy metabolism in sprinters was the anaerobic type, which ensured the highest exercise performance in the maximum intensity zone. Stayers had the aerobic type of energy metabolism, which was optimal in the moderate and high intensity zones. There was a difference in the distribution of constitution types between the sprinters and the stayers. Whereas 62% of the former, with their anaerobic energy metabolism, had muscular and 38% had asthenothoracal constitution, all stayers (aerobic energy metabolism) belonged to the asthenothoracal type. Comparison of the types of constitution and energy metabolism demonstrated a close interrelation between the features of the energy system and constitution type in both groups of athletes. Therefore, the constitution type may be used as a marker of the type of energy metabolism and athletes may be selected for either type of running on the basis of these outward signs.