Norms for the Wingate anaerobic test with comparison to another similar test.

This study was undertaken in order to develop norms for the Wingate test for physically active young men and women, and also to compare mean power measures obtained from the Wingate test with those obtained from another similar cycle ergometer test. A total of 112 males and 74 females aged 18 to 28 years comprised the subject pool. Data collected from the Wingate test included mean power for 30 s, peak power for 5 s, and a percent fatigue index. Data from the second test (Katch test) included mean power for both 30 s and 40 s. Percentile norms and descriptive statistics were generated as were multiple regression equations for prediction of mean power between the two different tests. Correlations between the two tests ranged from .66 to .87. Comparisons among data derived from this study and those reported for other athletic groups are also given.

Gender comparisons in anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity tests.

The purpose of the study was to compare anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity test scores between young active men and women. Three performance measures of anaerobic power and two of anaerobic capacity were administered to a sample comprising 52 male and 50 female college students (means age = 21.4 yrs). Results indicated significant differences between men and women in body height, weight and per cent fat, in fat free mass (FFM), anaerobic power, and anaerobic capacity when recorded as gross work completed and relative to body weight. However, these differences are reduced when data is adjusted for body weight and further reduced when corrected for FFM. The study found no significant differences between men and women in either anaerobic power or anaerobic capacity when values were given relative to FFM.

Physiological and anthropometric parameters that describe a rugby union team.

The purpose of this study was to describe the anthropometric and physiological parameters that apply to a USA amateur rugby union club team. Fifteen players who were members of the club's first team were evaluated for body composition, muscular strength, power and endurance, flexibility, anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity, and cardio-respiratory function shortly after completion of the regular season. Means for some of the variables measured include: age, 29 yr; height, 180 cm; weight, 84 kg; lean body weight, 74 kg; body fat, 12%, endurance sit-ups, 50/min; vertical jump height, 51 cm; anaerobic power output, 132 m.kg.s-1 (1.32 kw); anaerobic capacity, 2247 m.kp/40s (22.5 kJ); maximum heart rate, 186 beats/min; maximum ventilation, 175 l/min-1; maximum respiratory quotient 1.23; and maximum oxygen uptake, 56.6 ml.kg-1 min-1. In comparison with other rugby players studied these players had higher maximum oxygen uptake values, were similar in endurance sit-up and vertical jump ability, exhibited less upper body strength, and the forwards had lower body fat percentages. They were generally within the range of scores found to describe the aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and body composition of other élite amateur and professional intermittent sport athletes.

A survey of health-fitness evaluation centers.

Twenty-three medically oriented private health-fitness evaluation centers in the United States were surveyed to determine the types of tests available, protocols used, the availability of exercise prescriptions, qualifications of employees, and facility use. All centers administered an electrocardiogram exercise tolerance test, but great variability existed with regard to the number and type of other tests given and services available. Questions in the survey explored the availability of cardiovascular, pulmonary function, musculoskeletal, body composition, and lifestyle evaluations. Some centers were restricted to testing solely for cardiovascular function, while others were complete wellness centers. The centers had a range of 8 to 325 patrons per month, and in general, they tested more men than women.

Fifty years of training and competition in the marathon: Wally Hayward, age 70--a physiological profile.

A 70-year-old South African long-distance runner, holder of his age group's marathon record and former Olympic marathon runner, was studied to determine the effects of 52 years of regular training on functional capacity and health. Maximal treadmill exercise testing revealed no ischaemic ECG abnormalities and an excellent functional capacity (58,6 ml/kg/min). Submaximal testing showed that the subject ran at approximately 86% of maximum aerobic capacity when completing the marathon in his record time. The subject was very lean (13,6% fat) for his age. Muscles contained 82% slow-twitch fibres. Pulmonary function and blood chemical values were within normal limits. Although total cholesterol was somewhat high (247 mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was elevated (53 mg/dl). Twenty-four-hour Holter monitoring revealed no significant ventricular ectopic activity although frequent premature atrial contractions were noted. M-mode echocardiography revealed a normal heart with moderately hypertrophied left ventricular wall thickness. Radionuclide cine angiography showed a normal ejection fraction at rest (69%), followed by a slight drop at maximal exercise (62%). Left ventricular regional wall motion was considered normal at both rest and exercise. He had no significant orthopaedic abnormalities but showed normal flexibility and well-balanced muscular strength. Thickened heel pads were also noted. These results appear to indicate a beneficial effect of habitual physical activity upon the retention of functional capacity with ageing.