The Comparison of Field Tests to the Wingate Test in Professional Hockey Players

Abstract

The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is frequently used to assess power in ice hockey players. Though due to convenience, field tests are commonly used in place of the laboratory-based WAnT. However, minimal research has evaluated the validity of field tests as they compare to the WAnT in professional hockey players. PURPOSE: To compare the anaerobic power calculations of 4 field tests to the power on a WAnT in professional hockey players. METHODS: 59 professional hockey players completed three anaerobic power tests including the 30-second WAnT, the vertical jump test, and the Margaria-Kalmen Stair Sprint Test. Power during the WAnT was calculated as the peak power generated during the test. Power generated during the vertical jump test was calculated using three different equations developed by Lewis et al (VJ1), Johnson et al (VJ2) and Sayers et al (VJ3). Power generated during the Margaria-Kalamen Stair Sprint Test (MK) was calculated using a test specific equation. All power measurements were recorded in Watts (W). To assess the validity of each field test, correlations coefficients were used to evaluate the relationship between VJ1, VJ2, VJ3, MK and the WAnT. Mean differences in power and the standard error of measurement (SEM) between the WAnT and each field test were determined. RESULTS: The correlation between power generated during the WAnT and power generated during VJ1(r=.76, p<.001), VJ2 (r=.78, p<.001), VJ3 (r=.77, p<.001), and the MK (r=.72, p<.001) were all highly significant. However, the mean power generated during the VJ1 (1547.9 ± 193.2 W), VJ2 (5753.4 ± 630.7 W), VJ3 (6504.3 ± 818.92 W), and MK (1732.1 ± 250.3 W) were all significantly higher (p<.001) than the WAnT (1088.7 ± 172.8 W). The SEM between the WAnT and VJ1, VJ2, VJ3, and the MK were 94.2, 294.5, 391.9, 132.7, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high correlation between each field test and the laboratory-based WAnT test in professional hockey players, suggesting that each test may appropriately gauge the power output generated during the WAnT. However, due to large mean differences and wide variations in the SEM, these tests may not appropriately determine specific power generated during the WAnT. Further, it appears the vertical jump equation developed by Lewis et al best predicts power output during the WAnT.