Wingate anaerobic testing with a modified electromagnetically braked elliptical trainer. Part I: Methodological considerations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to modify an elliptical trainer and determine a suitable test load with it in order to perform Wingate anaerobic testing (WAnTet). Modifications were made to an electromagnetically braked elliptical trainer. Study participants were forty-eight physically active male college athletes ( mean age 20 +/- 1 years). Two pilot studies (n = 8) were administered to determine electrical signalling errors and to select the range of potentially suitable test loads ( between 0.5 to 1.3 watt/kg). The 1.0 watt/kg WAnTet load was determined to be the most suitable for WAnTet applications amongst 0.8 to 1.1 watt/kg loads ( n = 40; p < 0.05). Test-retest results using the 1.0 watt/ kg load for peak power ( PP) ( 1477 +/- 258 and 1484 +/- 271 watts), average power (AP) ( 1134 +/- 209 and 1120 +/- 208 watts), fatigue index ratio (FI%) ( 49 +/- 10% and 49 +/- 10%) and change in lactate levels ( 12.6 +/- 1.7 and 12.4 +/- 2.1 mM) were highly correlated (r: 0.94, 0.94, 0.80 and 0.74, respectively; p < 0.001). An electromagnetically braked elliptical trainer may be used to measure anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity of athletes and may be substituted for the usual Wingate anaerobic test performed on a cycle ergometer.