Force-velocity-power relationship, Wingate tests - semester 2, session 3

Patient's wellbeing (health) in the test:

  • All participants complete an informed consent form and general health screening form before starting the experiment

  • All participants complete an appropriate exercise warm-up and cool down on the cycle ergometer

  • Participants may feel light-headed or sick after all-out sprinting, particularly following the Wingate test (experiment 2). Someone must be responsible for looking after the participant throughout and up to 10 minutes after the testing procedure

  • Person collecting blood samples must wear gloves (and trousers)

 

Experiment 1 - 6 second sprint test:

  • Five to seven 6 second sprints at different frictional resistances (= a measure of the force that the participant must work against whilst cycling = the higher the frictional resistance, the higher the muscle force at a given speed)

  • For this experiment, frictional resistance is equivalent to a percentage of the participants' body mass = 3.5%, 5.5%, 7.5%, 9.5%, 11.5%, 13.5%, 15.5% and 17.5% of body mass (in the session we did 7.5%, 9.5%, 11.5%, and 13.5%)

  • Experiment allows the analysis of force (which is proportional to the frictional resistance), speed (measured by the software: rpm during the test), and power (calculated by the software: force x velocity)

  1. Adjust the seat height on a Monark cycle ergometer (angle of ~160-170 degrees)

  2. Perform a 5-minute light warm-up maintaining (1 kg load for females, 1.5 kg for males)

  3. Note heart rate at the end of the warm-up (helps with the characterisation of the participant)

  4. After 5 minutes, carry out two 5 s sprints (with 5 kg applied load for males and 4 kg applied load for females), separated by submaximal cycling

  5. Ensure the order of percentage of frictional resistance is randomised (blind participant from this)

  6. To ensure adequate recovery, allow at least 2-minute active recovery between each set (poor warm-up or inadequate recovery between sprints may make it difficult for the participant to give a maximal effort and may result in the need to repeat a sprint)

  7. Results from this will allow you to work out which is the optimal applied load to maximise power output for your participant (depends on participant and their strength)

 

Force-velocity and power-velocity relationships of muscular contraction during maximum-intensity cycling:

During maximal-intensity cycling, muscle force decreases as contraction velocity increases, while power follows a parabolic relationship and reaches its maximum at an intermediate pedalling velocity where force and velocity are optimally balanced

 

Experiment 2 - Wingate test:

  1. Take a resting blood sample for the determination of blood lactate concentration

  2. Use the same warm-up and procedures that were used in experiment 1, with the sprint of the main experiment lasting 30 seconds instead of 6 seconds

  3. Take a post exercise blood sample for determination of blood lactate

  4. Fatigue index (%)(power drop) = ((maximum power - minimum power)/maximum power)x100

 

Inter-individual differences in measured parameters:

  • Peak power (PP) = inter-individual differences in peak power are mainly explained by variations in explosive force production, fast-twitch fibre proportion, muscle mass, and neural activation capacity

  • Mean power (MP) = differences in mean power reflect variations in anaerobic capacity, fatigue resistance, glycolytic energy production, and the ability to sustain high power output over time

  • Pedal velocity (cadence) = differences in cadence are primarily influenced by contraction speed, neuromuscular coordination, fast-twitch fibre characteristics, and the ability to generate force at high movement velocities

 

Advantages of Wingate Anaerobic Test:

  • Simple and quick: the test only lasts 30 seconds and is relatively easy to administer

  • Non-invasive: no blood sampling or complex laboratory procedures are required

  • Measures multiple variables: provides Peak Power (PP), Mean Power (MP), and Fatigue Index (FI)

  • Good reliability: peak and mean power show high test–retest reliability when protocols are standardised

  • Widely validated: strongly associated with anaerobic performance and sprint ability

  • Useful for training monitoring: can track adaptations to sprint and power training

  • Relatively inexpensive: requires less sophisticated equipment than many laboratory tests

  • Standardised protocol: allows comparisons between athletes and studies

 

Disadvantages of Wingate test:

  • Highly dependent on motivation: maximal effort and strong encouragement are essential

  • Very fatiguing: causes severe discomfort and high lactate accumulation

  • Limited sport specificity: cycling may not reflect performance in non-cycling sports

  • Fixed resistance may not suit everyone: standard loads may overestimate or underestimate performance in some individuals

  • Fatigue Index has poor reliability: FI is more variable and less dependable than PP or MP

  • Requires familiarization: untrained subjects often improve simply through practice

  • Includes aerobic contribution: despite being called “anaerobic,” aerobic metabolism contributes during the 30 s effort

  • Not ideal for all populations: may be inappropriate for injured, elderly, or clinical populations due to its maximal intensity

 

Reading (Bar-Or, O (1987) The Wingate anaerobic test. An update on methodology, reliability and validity):

  • Purpose of paper = reviewed how the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) should be performed, how reliable it is and whether it is a valid measure of anaerobic performance

  • Wingate test = 30 second maximal cycling test, performed against a fixed resistance, designed to assess: anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity, fatigue characteristics

  • Traditionally resistance is set relative to body mass: usually 7.5% of body mass for adults

  • Main variables measured:

  • Peak power (PP) = highest mechanical power reached during the test = represents explosive anaerobic power, mainly phosphagen (ATP-PCr) contribution = usually occurs within the first 5 seconds

  • Mean power (MP) = average across the 30 seconds = represents anaerobic capacity, especially glycolytic contribution

  • Fatigue index (FI) = decline in power over the test = ((PP-lowest power)/PP)x100. Higher FI indicates greater fatigue during repeated maximal effort

  • Paper emphasised standardisation because results are highly sensitive to protocol changes

  • Methodological recommendations: proper warm-up, strong verbal encouragement, standardised resistance, accurate timing, consistent seat/crank setup, familiarisation trials (inexperienced subjects often improve substantially after practice sessions)

  • Reliability findings: peak power and mean power were highly reliable. Fatigue index was less reliable

  • Validity of the Wingate test = a valid measure of short-duration anaerobic performance because it correlates with sprinting and explosive performance, differentiates trained vs untrained individuals, and reflects adaptations to anaerobic training. However, paper also acknowledged no true gold standard for anaerobic capacity existed

  • Physiological interpretation = test stresses ATP-PCr system initially then anaerobic glycolysis increasingly across the 30 s effort with aerobic metabolism contributing somewhat during the test as duration progresses

  • Practical applications = test recommended for athlete testing, training monitoring, talent identification, rehabilitation, and research into anaerobic performance

  • Population test because it is relatively simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive

  • Main limitations = performance depends heavily on motivation, optimal resistance differs between individuals, cycling specificity may disadvantage non-cyclists, FI is inconsistent, and the test is physically demanding