Relationships between sprint performance, power output and fatigue

This investigation used a constant-load cycle ergometer as a way of examining relationships between the cycle ergometer and sprint performance. Twenty-five college-aged males were used for this investigation. Following a three minute warm-up, each subject performed a 15 sec. maximal bout on the cycle ergometer. The resistance load on the ergometer was set at 0.12kg/kg of bodyweight. Peak power (PP), average power (AP), time to peak power (TTPP), power fatigue rate (PFR), and power fatigue index (PFI) were computed using a microcomputer system. In addition, PP,AP, and PFR were adjusted for total bodyweight (PP/kg, AP/kg, PFR/kg). On a separate day each subject performed six sprints two each at 50m, 100m, and 200m. Each sprint was electronically timed using an infra-red motion detector and starting blocks were used. Initially low correlations were found between the ergometer parameters and the sprint times (r=.07-.55). However upon closer evaluation stronger relationships appeared to exist for the faster subjects. Therefore, subject subgroups of faster subjects were formed. Subject subgroups for the 5 Om (T<7.5sec.), 100m (T<l4sec.)}, and 200m (T<26.6sec.) showed higher correlations (r=.06-.70). Further analysis revealed that high inter-variable correlations existed between many of the ergometer variables. Based on these correlations the parameters were separated into four groups. Group I contained variables of absolute power (PP,AP), group II were variables of relative power (PP/kg, AP/kg), group III contained variables of fatigue (PFR, PFI, PFR/kg), and group IV consisted of the acceleration variable (TTPP). Equations for predicting sprint performance were developed using one to four variables with only one variable from each group being used. The best equation was considered to be the one that yielded the highest r* value while also yielding the lowest Akakai Information Criteria value and MSE. Variables from the relative power group (PP/kg, AP/kg) and fatigue group (PFR, PFI, PFR/kg) were the best indicators of performance. These results suggest that the cycle ergometer used in this investigation can be used for evaluating the components of sprint performance in untrained males, and that this test is best when compared to the 200 m dash.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Exercise Physiology

Department dc:contributor.department

Exercise Physiology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Shorten, James

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-03022010-020148

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/41323