Associations of whole body reaction time with anaerobic power performance among Saudi athletes in different sports

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the associations between whole-body reaction-movement time (RT) and anaerobic power performance among Saudi athletes participating in different sports. Fifty athletes (age 18-26 years) of four different sport groups representing sprinters (SP, n=12), fencers (FN, n=13), table tennis player (TT, n=12) long-distance runner (LD, n=13), and one non-athlete group (NA, n=8) participated in the study. All groups performed Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), and the vertical jump (VJ) test. RT was recorded using a sound (RT-S), light (RT-L), and a choice of light (RT-C). There were no significant differences in reaction-movement time between LD, SP, FN, TT, or NA groups. However, tests between subjects showed significant differences relative to sport type in muscular power (p=0.011), absolute maximal anaerobic power (p=0.008), absolute average anaerobic power in 30 seconds (p=0.001), average anaerobic power relative to body weight (p=0.007), and in fatigue index (p=0.028). Fencers recorded the highest values in absolute anaerobic power, absolute average power in 30 seconds, and average anaerobic power relative to body mass. Sprinters showed the highest decrement in anaerobic power during the 30-second test (18.7±6.0 watts/sec). Partial correlation coefficients (r) of selected anthropometric variables with reaction time and anaerobic power were calculated. This study showed that there were no significant changes in reaction-movement time between LD, SP, FN, TT, or NA groups. However, tests between subjects showed significant differences relative to sport type in muscular power, absolute maximal anaerobic power, absolute average anaerobic power in 30 seconds, average anaerobic power relative to body weight, and fatigue index.