Influence of continuous and discontinuous graded exercise tests with different initial speeds on peak treadmill speed

Abstract

Summary Objective We examined the influence of continuous and discontinuous graded exercise tests performed at different initial speeds on peak treadmill speed values and its relationship with 10-km running performance. Equipment and methods Twenty-one recreational runners performed two continuous and two discontinuous graded exercise tests of different initial speeds on treadmill to determine peak treadmill speed. Protocols were: (a) continuous protocol with initial speed at 8 km·h −1 , (b) continuous protocol with initial speed at 10 km·h −1 , (c) discontinuous protocol with initial speed at 8 km·h −1 , and (d) discontinuous protocol with initial speed at 10 km·h −1 . The participants also undertook two 10-km time trials performances. Results The peak treadmill speed obtained during the discontinuous graded exercise tests was higher than the peak treadmill speed reached in the continuous protocols. However, the initial speed did not influence the peak treadmill speed values. The relationships between peak treadmill speed values and 10-km performance differed slightly, and correlations varied between 0.88 and 0.92. Therefore, the peak treadmill speed values are influenced by the inter-stage rests during graded exercise test but not by the initial speed of the test. Furthermore, due the highest correlations with 10-km, we suggested the use of continuous GXTs for the V peak determination, and with the initial speeds (8 or 10 km·h −1 ) varying according the performance level of the runners.