Does power indicate capacity? 30-s Wingate anaerobic test vs. maximal accumulated O2 deficit

Int J Sports Med. 2007 Oct;28(10):836-43. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-964976. Epub 2007 May 11.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between anaerobic power and capacity. Seven men and seven women performed a 30-s Wingate Anaerobic Test on a cycle ergometer to determine peak power, mean power, and the fatigue index. Subjects also cycled at a work rate predicted to elicit 120 % of peak oxygen uptake to exhaustion to determine the maximal accumulated O (2) deficit. Peak power and the maximal accumulated O (2) deficit were significantly correlated (r = 0.782, p = 0.001). However, when the absolute difference in exercise values between groups (men and women) was held constant using a partial correlation, the relationship diminished (r = 0.531, p = 0.062). In contrast, we observed a significant correlation between fatigue index and the maximal accumulated O (2) deficit when controlling for gender (r = - 0.597, p = 0.024) and the relationship remained significant when values were expressed relative to active muscle mass. A higher anaerobic power does not indicate a greater anaerobic capacity. Furthermore, we suggest that the ability to maintain power output during a 30-s cycle sprint is related to anaerobic capacity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anaerobic Threshold / physiology*
  • Australia
  • Bicycling / physiology
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Exercise Test / methods*
  • Fatigue
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology*
  • Physical Fitness / physiology