Work Tests to Evaluate
Performance
Factors That Contribute to
Physical Performance
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
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
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
Determining VO2max
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”
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
Lactate Threshold
Ventilatory Threshold
• Critical power
– Speed at which running speed/time curve
reaches plateau
Critical Power
• Peak running velocity
– Highest speed that can be maintained for >5
seconds
Predicting Performance From
Peak Running Velocity
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
Running Economy
Running Economy and LT Results
From Incremental Exercise Test
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
Energy System Contribution to
Maximal Exercise
Determination of Maximal
Anaerobic Power
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
The Margaria Power Test
Series of 40-yard Dashes to Test
Anaerobic Power
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
Isometric Measurement Using
Cable Tensiometer
Isotonic Measurement Using
Dynamometry
Isokinetic Measurement of Strength
Using Cybex Dynamometer
Printout From Isokinetic
Dynamometer