Validation of a 6 second cycle test for the determination of peak power output (PPO) using wattbike cycle ergometer

In cases where the primary outcome measure relates to the determination of peak power output (PPO) in an ‘all-out’ fashion, the 30 s WAnT is likely to be unduly stressful on the participant and furthermore prohibits the measurement of other maximal performance tests on the same day.PURPOSE: The present study examined the agreement between peak power output during a standard Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) and a six second ‘all-out’ test on a Wattbike.METHODS: Nine males (40.7 ± 19.4 yrs, 1.76 ± 0.03 cm, 82.11 ± 8.9 kg) underwent three testing protocols on separate days. The protocols consisted 30 second WAnT (WAnT30), a modified WAnT over 6 seconds (WAnT6) and 6 second peak power test (PPT6).RESULTS: PPT6 was correlated with WAnT30 (r=0.9; p<0.001) with a mean bias of 105 W. PPT6 correlated with WAnT6 (r=0.95; p<0.001) with a mean bias of 74 W. WAnT6 correlated with WAnT30 (r=0.99; p<0.001) with a mean bias of 31 W. There was no difference in time to peak power between any trial. PPT6 resulted in significantly greater power outputs than in WAnT30 and WAnT6 (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: PPT6 and WAnT6 are valid measures of peak power output compared with WAnT30. This identifies that PPT6 and WAnT6 as short duration ‘all-out’ tests that have practical applications for researchers and coaches who wish to assess peak power output without the fatiguing effects associated with a standard WAnT. Further, The PPT6 has practical implications for the determination of peak power output in populations where the standard WAnT30 may be overly strenuous and poorly tolerated such as in older individuals or those with existing disease.