Work Tests to Evaluate Performance

1. Work Tests to Evaluate Performance

2. Factors That Contribute to Physical Performance

3. What the Athlete Gains From Physiological Testing • Information regarding strengths and weaknesses • Can serve as baseline data to plan training programs • Feedback regarding effectiveness of training program • Understanding about the physiology of exercise

4. Effective Physiological Testing • Relevant to the sport • Valid and reliable • Sport-specific • Repeated at regular intervals • Carefully controlled procedures • Interpreted to the coach and athlete

5. Testing of Maximal Aerobic Power • VO2max testing • Should be specific to athlete’s sport • Should use large muscle groups • Optimal test length: 10-12 minutes • Criteria of VO2max • Respiratory exchange ratio 1.15 • HR in last stage 10 beats•min-1 of HRmax • Plateau in VO2 with increasing work rate

6. Determining VO2max

7. Testing Peak VO2 in Paraplegic Athletes • Paraplegic athletes can be tested using arm exercise • Arm ergometers • Wheelchair ergometers • Highest VO2 measured during arm exercise is not considered VO2max • Called “peak VO2”

8. Laboratory Tests to Predict Endurance Performance • Lactate threshold • Exercise intensity at which blood lactic acid begins to systematically increase • Blood samples taken during incremental exercise

9. Lactate Threshold

10. Ventilatory Threshold

11. Critical power • Speed at which running speed/time curve reaches plateau

12. Critical Power

13. Peak running velocity • Highest speed that can be maintained for >5 seconds

14. Predicting Performance From Peak Running Velocity

15. Tests to Determine Running Economy • Measurement of the oxygen cost of running at various speeds • Greater running economy reflected in lower oxygen cost • Higher economy means that less energy is expended to maintain a given speed

16. Running Economy

17. Running Economy and LT Results From Incremental Exercise Test

18. Estimating 10,000m Running Time Using LT and Running Economy • VO2 at LT • 40 ml•kg-1•min-1 • VO2 of 40 ml•kg-1•min-1 • equals running speed of 205 m•min-1 • Estimated 10,000m running time 10,000m  205 m•min-1 = 48.78 min

19. Energy System Contribution to Maximal Exercise

20. Ultra short-term tests Tests ATP-PC system Examples Margaria power test Stair running Jumping power tests Running power tests Series of 40-yard dashes Cycling power tests Short-term tests Tests anaerobic glycolysis Examples Cycling tests Wingate test Running tests Sport-specific tests Determination of Maximal Anaerobic Power

21. The Margaria Power Test

22. Series of 40-yard Dashes to Test Anaerobic Power

23. Evaluation of Muscular Strength • Isometric measurement • Static force of muscle using tensiometer • Isotonic measurement • Constant tension • 1 RM lift, handgrip/back-lift dynamometer • Isokinetic measurement • Variable resistance at constant speed • Variable resistance devices • Variable resistance over range of motion

24. Isometric Measurement Using Cable Tensiometer

25. Isotonic Measurement Using Dynamometry

26. Isokinetic Measurement of Strength Using Cybex Dynamometer

27. Printout From Isokinetic Dynamometer