Affiliations: Coaching Education Department, School of Physical Education and Sports, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Ekim Pekünlü, Ege University School of Physical Education and Sports, Postal Code: TR 35040, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey. Tel.: +90 232 3425714; Fax: +90 232 3399000; E-mail:ekimpekunlu@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mathematical procedures involved in the calculation of
fatigue index (FI) and power drop (PD) are the main reasons why these
traditional fatigue-related indices of Wingate All-out Test (WAT) are the
least reliable indices. OBJECTIVE: To suggest a highly reliable fatigue-related output
calculated by drop in mechanical work production (DMW). METHODS: Twenty-one well-trained male athletes (age: 21.8 ± 1.9 years, peak power [PP]: 14.7 ± 1.3 W ⋅ kg - 1)
participated in a series of WAT sessions, using 10% of their body mass as
the workload, separated by 2-4 days. These WAT sessions were continued until
the difference in PP between successive trials was less than 5%.
Traditional FI and PD values were calculated using mean power data obtained
from 5, 3, 2 and 1-second time intervals and using instantaneous power data,
while DMW was calculated by predetermined areas in power-time curve. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficient
of variations (CV) revealed that DMW had higher reliability level (ICC =
0.92, CV = 4.53%) than that of traditional fatigue-related indices (ICC ≤ 0.91, CV ≥ 5.71%). In addition, DMW had the lowest limit of
``real change'' with 10.2% as the minimum detectable change score at
90% confidence. CONCLUSIONS: DMW might be used as a reliable output to evaluate
fatigue-related power data of the anaerobic capability. Besides, Monark Inc.
may easily modify its Peak Bike 894E software to make 30-second all-out test
more reliable for the assessment of fatigability levels.
Keywords: Cycle ergometer, fatigue index, indices, instantaneous power, power drop
