Customer Reviews

The Wingate Anaerobic Test

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While there is no single anaerobic test for the measurement of different components of anaerobic metabolism equally, the Wingate anaerobic test (WAT) has become increasingly the defacto standard for assessment of both the lower and upper extremities due to the numerous publications on this topic. This book represents the seminal work of the original proponents of the WAT. However, for those who are seeking a full description of the protocol, from manual egrometry calibration to the use of opto-sensor for automatic flywheel revolution counting, they will be disappointed. Similarly, coaches and trainers will find no norms with which to compare WAT power output of their trainees as only "typical values of WAT" of soldiers were made available. This is surprising considered the fact the WAT was developed in the 1970s.

For any test to be valid, results should firstly be obtained from the use of a properly calibrated test system. As for test reliability, it is interesting to note the use of interclass test-retest reliability for the WAT (instead of intra-class correlation coefficient). When pairs or multiple of measurements on a group of test subjects are taken, many researchers tend to plot one measurement against the second with a "best-fit-line" through all paired measurements, presenting great challenges in the interpretation of the resulting correlation coefficient (coeff). As this coeff is dependent upon the variability between the subjects. Thus subjects with different performance capability in a group will yield large coeff compared to group of subjects of similar capability. The "high" test-retest reliability was illustrated in the text with disabled children (Figure 3.1) with spastic CP and other forms of neuromuscular disease. The resulting high coeff would not be unexpected, as among these subjects, many would have presented with different stages of progression of their disease state and therefore, different physical performance capability.

Inertial effects associated with accelerating and decelerating the flywheel and crank of a mechanically-braked (friction-loaded) cycle-ergometer require energy and therefore, constitute a valid component of the test subject's power output. The text, however, continues the "long tradition" ignoring flywheel inertia in power output measurement. Lastly, recent investigations have shown the relative optimal load as recommended for the WAT, at 0.075kp/kg, is to be too low in eliciting peak power not just for adults, but also for untrained children. Many now advocate an optimal load between 0.09-0.10kp/kg so as not to underestimate the WAT output.

As this is the ONLY TEXT on the subject, it is hoped that the "missing elements" will be addressed in the coming edition, perhaps in the form of a compendium with the contribution from leading researchers in the field, making this text a true classic.