{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T13:20:03Z","timestamp":1773667203526,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,14]],"date-time":"2026-03-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773446400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Erzurum Technical University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit","award":["024"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["024"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medicina"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Cross-country skiing requires high levels of upper-body strength and efficient respiratory function to sustain performance during sport-specific movements. This study aimed to examine the effects of an eight-week ski ergometer-based training program on upper-extremity isokinetic muscle strength and pulmonary function in competitive cross-country skiers. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 cross-country skiers voluntarily participated in the study (experimental group: n = 10, control group: n = 10). The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental controlled design. During the eight-week training period, the experimental group performed ski ergometer training three times per week at an intensity of 80\u201390% of maximal heart rate, with a target distance of 2.5 km per session, in addition to their regular training program. Measurements were obtained before and after the intervention. Results: Following the ski ergometer training period, significant increases were observed in FVC (F = 18.565, p &lt; 0.001, \u03b7p2 = 0.508) and FEV1 (F = 8.789, p = 0.008, \u03b7p2 = 0.328), which were associated with enhanced respiratory muscle endurance and ventilatory capacity. Regarding the isokinetic strength parameters, the DPPE60 variable showed significant main effects of time (F = 33.770, p &lt; 0.001, \u03b7p2 = 0.652) and time \u00d7 group interaction (F = 18.590, p &lt; 0.001, \u03b7p2 = 0.508), indicating higher upper-extremity strength values across the measurement period. Additionally, strong positive correlations were found between dominant and nondominant limbs (r = 0.79\u20130.92; p &lt; 0.05), indicating balanced bilateral strength development and high neuromuscular coordination. Conclusions: Ski ergometer-based training was associated with improvements in upper-extremity peak power (DPPE60) and ventilatory capacity (FVC) beyond general training-related adaptations. These findings suggest that SkiErg training may be a useful complementary method for enhancing selected performance-related physiological parameters in cross-country skiers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina62030543","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T11:13:14Z","timestamp":1773659594000},"page":"543","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Investigation of the Effects of Ski Ergometer-Based Training on Respiratory Functions and Isokinetic Muscle Strength in Cross-Country Skiers"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"62","author":[{"given":"Buket","family":"Sevindik Akta\u015f","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sport Sciences, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum 25050, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0305-4632","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Esedullah","family":"Akaras","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum 25050, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Muhammet","family":"Polat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Winter Sports and Sports Sciences, Atat\u00fcrk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-8359-6710","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"S\u0131la","family":"Kara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Health Sciences, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum 25050, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-2438-0329","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mine","family":"K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Health Sciences, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum 25050, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1034\/j.1600-0838.2002.01140.x","article-title":"Maximal strength training improves aerobic endurance performance","volume":"12","author":"Hoff","year":"2002","journal-title":"Scand. 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