Ratio and interconnections of functional fitness structure key components of elite combat athletes at the stage of maximum realization of individual capabilities

Background and Study Aim.  The objective of the work consisted in studying the ratio and interconnections of functional fitness structure key components of elite combat athletes in the process of adaptation to physical loads at the stage of individual capacity maximum realization. Material and Methods. 55 highly skilled wrestlers aged 19-27 years old, members of the national teams of Ukraine in different styles of wrestling - freestyle, Greco-Roman, judo were examined. The assessment of wrestlers’ functional fitness structure was made according to a complex of indices of physiological systems activity at rest and during performance of a block of testing physical loads on a bicycle ergometer. Results. The components of functional fitness structure of male combat athletes of three wrestling styles (Greco-Roman, freestyle and judo) were studied according to the manifestations of the respiratory and circulatory functions during testing loads performance, and achieved indices of work capacity. It has been revealed that the key integrative components of the general structure of wrestlers' fitness include: the level of special work capacity, general level of functional fitness, mobility of physiological processes, economy, anaerobic power. Greco-Roman wrestlers are superior to freestyle wrestlers and judokas in anaerobic power, mobility and economy. The greatest differences are manifested in the values of anaerobic power, mobility and general level of functional fitness, whereas the least - in indices of economy. The key criteria for the functional fitness of wrestlers in the manifestation of a high level of physical work capacity include: economy of functioning at rest and during muscular activity of anaerobic-aerobic nature, high reactivity of the cardiovascular system to physical load, power of the anaerobic energy supply system, the rate of recovery processes, the state of cardiac activity regulatory mechanisms, the level of metabolic processes and excitability of the heart muscle. The level of development and the ratio of the components of functional fitness structure of elite combat athletes may be used as the reference models for development of differentiated scales for estimation of the key constituents of physical state of wrestlers specialized in freestyle, Greco-Roman wrestling and judo. Complex application of different methods of testing athletes provides more efficient approach to the problem of monitoring and managing functional fitness and special work capacity of wrestlers at the stage of maximum realization of individual capacities. Conclusions. An increase in the proportion of key integrative functional indices in special work capacity of athletes specialized in various wrestling styles - Greco-Roman, freestyle and judo represents the most significant criterion for improving their functional fitness structure.