A new laboratory test method for estimating anaerobic performance charasteristics with special reference to sprint running

Abstract

The present study was aimed at developing a new laboratory test method, which could be used to determine both the metabolic and neuromuscular components of maximal anaerobic running performance and which could provide training prescription for sports with short duration and high power output. A total of 60 male athletes (400-m, middle and long distance runners and power athletes), 8 female 400-m runners and 34 physically active men volunteered to participate in tests for the study. The new maximal anaerobic running test (MART) consisted of n x 20-s runs on a treadmill with a 100-s recovery between the runs. The speed of the treadmill was increased after each consecutive run until exhaustion but the slope of the treadmill was kept constant (1°, 3°, 4°, 5° or 7°). In order to determine the blood lactate vs. O₂ demand curve, blood lactate concentration was measured at rest and after each run. The height of counter-movement jump was measured at rest (CMJᵣₑₛₜ) and after exhaustion. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that the most important determinants of the maximal anaerobic work capacity were maximal running velocity on a track, power at 10 mmol · 1⁻¹ blood lactate level (P₁₀ₘм) and peak blood lactate concentration (peak BLa). Present results showed that the grade of the treadmill affects the results of the MART since maximal (Pₘₐₓ) and submaxirnal power (P₁₀ₘм and P₅ₘм) indices increased when the treadmill inclination increased from 1° to 7°. Furthermore, the relative weight of the metabolic component to determine the P max increased and the relative weight of the force-velocity component of the neuromuscular system decreased with the increased grade in the MART. High Pₘₐₓ, peak BLa and contribution of anaerobic energy yield, as well as significant correlations between the corresponding variables of the MART and Wingate test, suggested that the MART is a valid maximal anaerobic running performance test. Reliability figures of the MART variables also indicated that the MART is a reliable test. Furthermore, the present results showed that sprint training increased the P max in well-trained sprint runners. Moreover, correlation analyses showed that individual changes in submaxirnal power (P₃ₘм), peak BLa, Pₘₐₓ and CMJᵣₑₛₜ were related to the volume of corresponding training methods, suggesting that the MART is a sensitive test method for sprint running.