Performance and metabolic profiles of the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) were compared between a mechanically resisted (ME)
and an electro-magnetically braked (EE) cycle ergometer. Fifteen healthy subjects (24.0±3.5 years, 180.5±6.1 cm, 75.4±11.9 kg)
performed a WAnT on ME, and EE 3 days apart. Performance was measured as peak power (PP), minimum power (MP), mean power (AP),
time to PP (TTPP), fatigue rate (FR), and maximum cadence (RPM
MAX). Lactic (
W
LAC) and alactic (
W
PCR) anaerobic energy were calculated from net lactate appearance and the fast component of post-exercise oxygen uptake. Aerobic
metabolism (
W
AER) was calculated from oxygen uptake during the WAnT. Total energy cost (
W
TOT) was calculated as the sum of
W
LAC,
W
PCR, and
W
AER. There was no difference between ME and EE in PP (873±159 vs. 931±193 W) or AP (633±89 vs. 630±89 W). In the EE condition
TTPP (2.3±0.7 vs. 4.3±0.7 s) was longer (
P<0.001), MP (464±78 vs. 388±57 W) was lower (
P<0.001), FR (15.2±5.2 vs. 20.5±6.8%) was higher (
P<0.005), and RPM
MAX (168±18 vs. 128±15 rpm) was slower (
P<0.001). There was no difference in
W
TOT (1,331±182 vs. 1,373±120 J kg
−1),
W
AER (292±76 vs. 309±72 J kg
−1),
W
PCR (495±153 vs. 515±111 J kg
−1) or
W
LAC (545±132 vs. 549±141 J kg
−1) between ME and EE devices. The EE produces distinctly different performance measures but valid metabolic WAnT results that
may be used to evaluate anaerobic fitness.
Keywords Testing device - Lactate - Creatine phosphate - Oxygen uptake - Comparison