A novel incremental slide board test for speed skaters: Reliability analysis and comparison with a cycling test

Abstract

IntroductionExercise prescription from indices obtained from cycling or running treadmill incremental tests does not seem suitable for speed skaters. However, the specificity of laboratory skating assessments remains to be established. PurposeThis study intended to assess the test–retest reliability of an incremental test performed on a slide board (SB), and its validity compared with a cycling protocol in order to determine aerobic performance indices in speed skaters. MethodsTen competitive inline speed skaters performed two incremental tests on an SB and one cycling incremental test. The intensity of SB test was determined by cadence, starting at 30 push-offs/min and increasing by three push-offs/min each minute, until volitional exhaustion. Maximal and submaximal values related to the anaerobic threshold (AT) of oxygen uptake (VO2), pulmonary ventilation (VE), respiratory exchange (RER), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived effort (RPE), cadence (CAD), and blood lactate concentration ([Lac]max) were measured. ResultsNo significant differences were found in any of the variables between test–retest on SB. High relative (ICC>0.9) and absolute reliability (typical error of measure as CVTEM<3.5%) were found for VO2max, HRmax, [Lac]max, CADmax, VO2AT, CADAT, and RPEAT. In comparison to SB test, the [Lac]max was significantly higher during cycling, and the RPEAT was lower. VO2max, HRmax, CADmax, VO2AT and CADAT were largely correlated between cycling and SB (r>0.8). ConclusionsThe findings suggest that SB test is reliable and adequate to evaluate aerobic performance indices of speed skaters.