Abstract
The intent of this study was to evaluate relative and absolute reliability of the 20-s anaerobic test (WAnT20) versus the WAnT30 and to verify how far the various indices of the 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT30) could be predicted from the WAnT20 data in male athletes. The participants were Exercise Science majors (age: 21.5±1.6 yrs, stature: 0.183±0.08 m, body mass: 81.2±10.9 kg) who participated regularly in team sports. In Phase I, 41 participants performed duplicate WAnT20 and WAnT30 tests to assess reliability. In Phase II, 31 participants performed one trial each of the WAnT20 and WAnT30 to determine the ability of the WAnT20 to predict components of the WAnT30. In Phase III, 31 participants were used to cross-validate the prediction equations developed in Phase II. Respective intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for peak power output (PPO) (ICC = 0.98 and 0.95) and mean power output (MPO) (ICC 0.98 and 0.90) did not differ significantly between WAnT20 and WAnT30. ICCs for minimal power output (POmin) and fatigue index (FI) were poor for both tests (range 0.53 to 0.76). Standard errors of the means (SEM) for PPO and MPO were less than their smallest worthwhile changes (SWC) in both tests; however, POmin and FI values were “marginal,” with SEM values greater than their respective SWCs for both tests values. Stepwise regression analysis showed that MPO had the highest coefficient of predictability (R = 0.97), with POmin and FI considerable lower (R = 0.71 and 0.41 respectively). Cross-validation showed insignificant bias with limits of agreement of 0.99±1.04, 6.5±92.7 W, and 1.6±9.8% between measured and predicted MPO, POmin, and FI, respectively. WAnT20 offers a reliable and valid test of leg anaerobic power in male athletes and could replace the classic WAnT30.
Highlights
Classical analyses of human physical performance suggested three primary energy sources: an anaerobic power, an anaerobic capacity and an aerobic power capable of sustaining effort for much longer periods [1, 2]
The relative and absolute reliability of POmin and fatigue index (FI) were poor for both test durations; the Standard errors of the means (SEM) for these two measures were larger than their respective smallest worthwhile changes (SWC), indicating that both were of marginal value (Table 1 and 2)
The peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) values satisfied the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC)(3,1) criterion of high relative reliability, and this was confirmed by SWCs values that were larger than their SEMs counterparts (Table 1 and 2)
Summary
Classical analyses of human physical performance suggested three primary energy sources: an anaerobic power (largely phosphagen based, and typically depleted within 2–4 s), an anaerobic capacity (limited largely by lactate accumulation, and exhausted within about 45 s) and an aerobic power capable of sustaining effort for much longer periods [1, 2]. The 5 s and 30 s power output measurements of the standard 30-s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT30) were designed to examine the first two of these energy reserves [3]. The WAnT30 is both a reliable and a valid test [4,5,6], and is the most popular method of evaluating anaerobic ability. During the 30 s maximal effort of the WAnT30, the accumulation of [H+] as a by product of anaerobic glycolysis results in a drop in blood pH [10]. In athletic applications where frequent assessments are required, awareness of these side effects may lead to less than maximal efforts during repeated testing, with a negative impact upon the reliability and validity of the test [14]. A previous study has shown that a 10 s reduction of test duration reduces physical discomfort in more than 90% of participants [14], leading to the view that a shortening of the test protocol might be helpful in some athletic and clinical applications
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