Article

# Determination of critical power using a 3-min all-out cycling test

Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom.
(Impact Factor: 4.46). 04/2007; 39(3):548-55. DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e31802dd3e6
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT We tested the hypothesis that the power output attained at the end of a 3-min all-out cycling test would be equivalent to critical power.
Ten habitually active subjects performed a ramp test, two 3-min all-out tests against a fixed resistance to establish the end-test power (EP) and the work done above the EP (WEP), and five constant-work rate tests to establish the critical power (CP) and the curvature constant parameter (W') using the work-time and 1/time models.
The power output in the 3-min trial declined to a steady level within 135 s. The EP was 287 +/- 55 W, which was not significantly different from, and highly correlated with, CP (287 +/- 56 W; P = 0.37, r = 0.99). The standard error for the estimation of CP using EP was approximately 6 W, and in 8 of 10 cases, EP agreed with CP to within 5 W. Similarly, the WEP derived from the 3-min test (15.0 +/- 4.7 kJ) was not significantly different from, and correlated with, W' (16.0 +/- 3.8 kJ; P = 0.35; r = 0.84).
During a 3-min all-out cycling test, power output declined to a stable value in approximately the last 45 s, and this power output was not significantly different from the independently measured critical power.

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• "Following a standardized warm-up, which included 10 bodyweight squats and 10 alternating lunges, the participant completed 60 seconds of unloaded cycling at 90 rpm, followed by an all-out three-minute effort with resistance being set as a function of pedaling rate (Vanhatalo et al., 2007). Participants were asked to accelerate to approximately 110 rpm over the last 5 s of the baseline period. "
##### Article: Evaluation of Electromyographic Frequency Domain Changes during a Three-Minute Maximal Effort Cycling Test.
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the time course of EMG frequency changes during a three-minute maximal effort cycling test (3MT) session and to examine which parameter between mean (MNF) and median (MDF) frequency is more suitable for evaluation of changes in neuromuscular function throughout a 3MT. Eighteen recreationally-active men volunteered to participate in this study. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was measured using a dynamometer to determine maximal EMG frequency of the vastus lateralis (VL) of the kicking leg during isometric knee extension. A maximal oxygen consumption test (VO2peak) on a cycle ergometer was performed to establish the appropriate load profile for the 3MT which was completed after a period of at least 48 hours. MNF, MDF and power output (PO) values were measured at 10-second epochs throughout the duration of the 3MT. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the changes in EMG frequency, relative to maximal values from the MVC, and change in PO during the testing procedure. MNF, Root Mean Square (RMS), and PO significantly decreased during the 3MT, while MDF did not change significantly. Statistically, EMG frequency and PO decreased at first and remained constant in response to the 3MT, which may be reflective of differing patterns of muscle fiber type fatigue throughout the testing session. Due to decreased variability, changes in neuromuscular function during this protocol may be better evaluated using MNF than MDF. Key pointsEMG frequency decreased initially and remained constant in response to all-out cycling test.The change in EMG frequency and power output were similar during all-out cycling test.MNF may be better than MDF for neuromuscular function evaluation during all-out cycling test due to decreased variability.
Journal of sports science & medicine 06/2015; 14(2):452-8. · 0.90 Impact Factor
• "However , the duration necessary to achieve this stability of SP is unknown. Based on the findings of Burnley et al. (2006) and Vanhatalo et al. (2007), we selected a 3 min sprint duration as being sufficient for attainment of cP. to investigate the efficacy of this 'ramp-sprint test' (rSt) protocol to identify the domains of aerobic function in a single laboratory test, we evaluated the following hypotheses: (1) the single-test rSt would provide reproducible estimates of lt, SP and ˙ V O 2peak ; (2) the SP and ˙ V O 2peak resulting from the single-test rSt would be equal to cP and ˙ V O 2max resulting from conventional testing procedures; and (3) constant power exercise tests at power outputs derived from the single-test rSt would result in physiological responses characteristic of exercise within moderate, heavy and very-heavy intensity domains. In testing these hypotheses we also aimed to identify the duration required for SP to stabilise during the sprint phase of the test. "
##### Article: A ‘ramp-sprint’ protocol to characterise indices of aerobic function and exercise intensity domains in a single laboratory test
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ABSTRACT: Purpose The lactate threshold (LT), critical power (CP) and maximum oxygen uptake ($$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\text{max} }$$) together partition exercise intensity domains by their common physiological, biochemical and perceptual response characteristics. CP is the greatest power output attainable immediately following intolerance at $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}$$, and the asymptote of 3 min all-out exercise. Thus we reasoned that a maximal ‘sprint’ immediately following standard ramp-incremental exercise would allow characterisation of the three aerobic indices in a single test. Methods Ten healthy men (23 ± 3 year, mean ± SD) performed 9 cycle-ergometry tests on different days: (A) two ramp-incremental tests to intolerance (20 W min−1), immediately followed by a 3 min maximal, variable-power effort ramp-sprint test (RST) for LT, $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}$$ and sprint-phase power (SP) determination; (B) four constant-power tests for CP and $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\text{max} }$$ determination; (C) constant-power tests at 10 W below LT, and 10 W below and above SP to verify intensity domain characterisation. Capillary [lactate] and breath-by-breath $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$$ were measured. Results Reproducibility of LT, SP and $$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2\text{max} }$$ measurements between RST repeats was within 5 % or less (r ≥ 0.991, p
Arbeitsphysiologie 06/2014; 114(9). DOI:10.1007/s00421-014-2908-8 · 2.30 Impact Factor
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• "It is generally recommended that a preliminary 3Mt be completed on a separate occasion prior to the 3Mt of interest (Jones et al. 2010; Vanhatalo et al. 2007). this familiarisation trial is deemed necessary to ensure that valid estimates of cP and W′ are obtained during the experimental 3Mt (Vanhatalo et al. 2007; Jones et al. 2010; Burnley et al. 2006b). the current study design did not include a familiarisation trial, because it would have required an additional visit to the laboratory. "
##### Article: A single-session testing protocol to determine critical power and W'
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ABSTRACT: Critical power (CP), and the finite capacity to perform work above CP (W'), can be determined using a 3-min "all-out" cycling test (3MT). This protocol requires two laboratory visits: an incremental exercise test, followed by a 3MT on a separate day. The purpose of this study was to establish whether an incremental exercise test and a 3MT performed during a single laboratory visit can be used to accurately determine CP and W'. Twelve participants completed two experimental protocols: (1) Combined protocol: an incremental exercise test followed by a 3MT, with 20 min of recovery between exercise bouts; and (2) Independent protocol: the conventional 3MT protocol, performed on a separate day. CP determined from the Combined (254 ± 117 W) and Independent (256 ± 118 W) protocols were not different (p = 0.40). Similarly, W' was not different (p = 0.96) between the Combined (13.7 ± 3.9 kJ) and Independent (13.7 ± 4.5 kJ) protocols. Linear regression revealed a strong level of measurement agreement between the protocols for CP and W', evidenced by high R (2) values (≥0.85) and marginal standard errors of the estimates (CP = 5 W; W' = 1.81 kJ). A Combined protocol, consisting of an incremental exercise test followed by a 3MT, provides an accurate and valid method to determine an individual's CP and, to a lesser extent, W'. Furthermore, this protocol permits the measurement of the gas-exchange threshold and peak O2 uptake and, consequently, the moderate, heavy, and severe exercise-intensity domains may be defined within a single exercise-testing session.
Arbeitsphysiologie 02/2014; DOI:10.1007/s00421-014-2827-8 · 2.30 Impact Factor