ANAEROBIC POWER OUTPUT AND LACTIC ACID DYNAMICS IN ELITE AND SUB-ELITE FREESTYLE WRESTLERS: A COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY

Freestyle wrestling is a high-intensity intermittent sport placing substantial demands on both anaerobic energy systems and lactate buffering capacity. Despite its global prevalence, the physiological differences in anaerobic power and lactic acid kinetics between elite and sub-elite wrestlers remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to compare peak anaerobic power (PAPw), mean anaerobic power (MAPw), fatigue index (FI), and blood lactate concentration ([La]b) profiles between elite and sub-elite freestyle wrestlers across multiple weight categories.