A New Single Workbout Test to Estimate Critical Power and Anaerobic Work Capacity

Authors

Haley Bergstrom, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

5-2011

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree in Master of Science, Major: Nutrition and Health Sciences, Under the Supervision of Professor Terry J. Housh. Lincoln, Nebraska: May, 2011.

Copyright 2011 Haley Bergstrom.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to develop a new 3-min, single workbout test to estimate critical power (CP) and anaerobic work capacity (AWC) using the Monark cycle ergometer with the resistance based on the individual’s body weight. Twelve moderately-trained adults (6 men and 6 women; mean age ± SD = 23.2 ± 3.5 yr) performed an incremental cycle ergometer test to exhaustion. The CP and AWC were estimated from the original work limit (W_lim) versus time limit (T_lim) relationship (CP_PT) and a 3-min all-out test (CP_3min) against a fixed resistance and compared to CP and AWC estimated from the new 3-min tests on the Monark cycle ergometer (CP_3.5% and CP_4.5%). The resistance values for the CP_3.5% and CP_4.5% tests were set at 3.5% and 4.5% of the subject’s body weight (kg). The Mean differences between estimates of CP and AWC derived from the four methods (CP_PT, CP_3min, CP_3.5% and CP_4.5%) were analyzed using separate one-way repeated measures ANOVAs with paired t-tests and Bonferroni corrections for post-hoc comparisons. The relationships among the four estimates of CP and AWC were described using Pearson product-moment correlations and separate zero-order correlation matrices. The results indicated that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) among mean CP values for CP_PT (178 ± 47 W), CP_3.5% (173 ± 40 W), and CP_4.5% (186 ± 44 W). The mean CP_3min (193 ± 54 W), however, was significantly greater than CP_PT and CP_3.5%. There were no significant differences in AWC for the CP_PT (13412 ± 6247 J), CP_3min (10895 ± 2923 J), and CP_4.5% (9842 ± 4394 J). The AWC values for the CP_PT and CP_3min, however, were significantly greater than CP_3.5% (8357 ± 2946J). The results of the present study indicated that CP and AWC could be estimated from a single 3-min workbout test on the Monark cycle ergometer with the resistance set at 4.5% of body weight.

Advisor: Terry J. Housh