Figure Skating: What Do We Know About It?

In brief: Despite its long history, there has been very little systematic study of figure skating. Successful skaters and coaches have passed on ideas, traditions, and opinions to their followers with the idea that what once produced good results must be the correct approach. Skaters are significantly shorter, lighter, and leaner than their sedentary counterparts and have a rather low percent body fat. Their cardiovascular fitness levels are 50% to 60% higher than those of sedentary people of the same age, but far less than those of endurance athletes.