EXPLOSIVE MUSCLE POWER ASSESSMENT IN ELITE ATHLETES USING WINGATE ANAEROBIC TEST

Sex-Based Performance Responses to an Acute Sprint Interval Cycling Training Session in Collegiate Athletes

There are limited data pertaining to the effects of sex on sprint interval cycling (SIC) training session performance. Purpose: We investigated sex-based differences on sprint interval cycling (SIC) performance in collegiate soccer players. Methods: Twelve men and twelve women completed two identical lab trials, 7-14 days apart. The first lab session served as familiarization, "dry run," trial. Reported data were collected and analyzed during the second, "testing" SIC training trial. Each SIC training session was comprised of a warm-up, at 50 revolutions per min (RPM) with no resistance, and six repeated 30-s Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnT) separated by a 4-min recovery period between each sprint. Results: Significant (P ≤ .05) sex differences were observed in peak power (PP), peak power relative to body mass (RPP), mean power (MP), mean power relative to body mass (RMP) but not in peak power relative to fat free mass (FFMPP). When WAnT bouts 2-6 were expressed as %Δ of WAnT1, there were no significant (P > .05) differences between the sexes across all performance variables. Further, Cohen's d statistics demonstrated only trivial and small effect size between the groups. Average HR and RPE were not significantly (P > .05) different between the sexes. Correlational analysis revealed a significant (P ≤ .05) relationship between FFM, and PP and MP. Conclusion: Although overall performance may be affected by a number of physiological mechanisms, the results of the current study indicate that differences between men and women soccer players performing SIC training, are likely attributed to differences in body composition.

The Effect of Short-Term Wingate-Based High Intensity Interval Training on Anaerobic Power and Isokinetic Muscle Function in Adolescent Badminton Players

Badminton requires both aerobic fitness and anaerobic ability for high performance. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a traditional training method for improving fitness. In this study, we investigated whether short-term Wingate-based HIIT is effective for improving anaerobic activity in youth badminton players. Participants included 32 total badminton players in middle school and high school. They were divided into two groups (HIIT and moderate continuous training (MCT)). Training occurred for 4 weeks in total, three times a week, for 30 min each session. A body composition test, isokinetic knee muscle function test (60°/s, 240°/s), Wingate anaerobic power test (30 s × 5 sets), and analysis of heart rate changes were undertaken before and after training. After 4 weeks, body fat decreased in the HIIT group (p = 0.019); they also showed superior anaerobic ability compared to the MCT group. Differences were statistically significant in 3-4 sets (three sets, p = 0.019; four sets, p = 0.021). Regarding fatigue, the HIIT group showed superior fatigue improvement after training and better fatigue recovery ability in 3~5 sets (three sets, p = 0.032; four sets, p = 0.017; five sets, p = 0.003) than the MCT group. Neither group exhibited changes in heart rate during the anaerobic power test after training. Both groups improved in terms of isokinetic knee muscle function at 60°/s with no differences. However, at 240°/s, the HIIT group showed a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.035). Therefore, HIIT for 4 weeks improved the athletes' performance and physical strength.

Similar ergogenic effect of caffeine on anaerobic performance in men and women athletes

PURPOSE

Caffeine is widely considered an ergogenic aid to increase anaerobic performance although most of this evidence is supported by investigations with only male samples. To date, it is unknown if the ergogenic effect of caffeine on anaerobic performance is of similar magnitude in men and women athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of the ergogenic effect of caffeine on the Wingate test in men and women.

METHODS

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over experimental trial, ten women athletes and ten men athletes performed a 15-s adapted version of the Wingate test after ingesting 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass or a placebo (cellulose).

RESULTS

In comparison to the performance obtained in the 15-s Wingate test with a placebo, caffeine increased peak power in men (9.9 ± 0.8 vs. 10.1 ± 0.8 W/kg, p < 0.01, d = 0.26) and in women (8.8 ± 0.9 vs. 9.1 ± 0.8 W/kg, p = 0.04, d = 0.30). Caffeine was also effective to increase the mean power in men (8.9 ± 0.7 vs. 9.0 ± 0.7 W/kg, p = 0.01, d = 0.21) and women (8.1 ± 0.7 vs. 8.3 ± 0.7 W/kg, p = 0.01, d = 0.27). The ergogenic effect of caffeine on the 15-s Wingate peak power (2.3 ± 3.2% in men and 3.2 ± 2.8% in women; p = 0.46) and mean power (2.0 ± 1.7% and 2.4 ± 2.3%, respectively; p = 0.93) was of similar magnitude in both sexes.

CONCLUSION

Acute ingestion of 3 mg kg^-1 of caffeine enhanced peak and mean cycling power during a 15-s adapted version of the Wingate test in men and women and the ergogenic effect was of similar magnitude in both sexes. This information suggests that both men and women athletes might obtain similar benefits from caffeine supplementation during anaerobic exercise.

Normative Data of the Wingate Anaerobic Test in 1 Year Age Groups of Male Soccer Players

The Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) has been used extensively to evaluate performance in soccer, however, a comprehensive sport-specific normative database has not been available so far. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to develop norms of the main indices of the WAnT with regards to age in soccer. A secondary aim was to examine the relationship of WAnT with two common field tests, 20 m sprint and vertical jump, and study the variation of this relationship by age and playing position. Hundred and ninety five male soccer players (age 18.1 ± 4.9 years) performed the WAnT, and a sub-sample of 190 soccer players (age 19.4 ± 5.1 years) performed 20 m sprint, squat (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). Age was related very largely with peak power (R ² = 0.57) and mean power of the WAnT (R ² = 0.60) when they were expressed in W, and largely (R ² = 0.41 and R² = 0.33, respectively) when they were expressed in W.kg^-1, whereas it did not relate with fatigue index. After being adjusted for age, a relationship of SJ (B = 3.91, 90% CI: 2.49, 5.32; R ² = 0.26), CMJ (B = 3.59, 90% CI: 2.22, 4.95; R ² = 0.24) and 20 m sprint (B = -0.06, 90% CI: -0.10; -0.01; R ² = 0.19) with peak power of the WanT was observed. In summary, P_peak and P_mean were related very largely to age, especially during adolescence, and percentile norms of these indices were developed for 1-year age groups from 11 to 21 years old and for a single adult age group (22-39 years old). These findings on the largest dataset of soccer players ever studied would be expected to offer a practical tool to the members of the sports medicine team (e.g., exercise physiologists, fitness trainers, and coaches) working with them.