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ABSTRACT
Zupan, MF, Arata, AW, Dawson, LH, Wile, AL, Payn, TL, and Hannon, ME. Wingate Anaerobic Test peak power and anaerobic capacity classifications for men and women intercollegiate athletes. J Strength Cond Res 23(9): 2598-2604, 2009-The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) has been established as an effective tool in measuring both muscular power and anaerobic capacity in a 30-second time period; however, there are no published normative tables by which to compare WAnT performance in men and women intercollegiate athletics. The purpose of this study was to develop a classification system for anaerobic peak power and anaerobic capacity for men and women National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college athletes using the WAnT. A total of 1,585 (1,374 men and 211 women) tests were conducted on athletes ranging from the ages of 18 to 25 years using the WAnT. Absolute and relative peak power and anaerobic capacity data were recorded. One-half standard deviations were used to set up a 7-tier classification system (poor to elite) for these assessments. These classifications can be used by athletes, coaches, and practitioners to evaluate anaerobic peak power and anaerobic capacity in their athletes.
KEY WORDS muscular power, fatigue index, absolute power, relative power, physical fitness
INTRODUCTION
Physical fitness can be assessed through 5 major components: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular power/strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. An anaerobic activity is defined as energy expenditure that uses anaerobic metabolism (without the use of oxygen) that lasts less than 90 seconds, utilizing an exhaustive effort (25). Two major energy sources are required during the WAnT. The first is the adenosine triphosphate-phosphocreatine (ATP-PCr) system, which lasts for 3 to 15 seconds during maximum effort (25). The second system is anaerobic glycolysis, which can be sustained for the remainder of the all-out effort (25). Therefore, the WAnT measures the muscles' ability to work using both the ATP-PCr and glycolytic systems. Many sports-including football, sprinting, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and gymnasticsuse anaerobic metabolism extensively during competition. This study examines the aspect of lower-body peak power and anaerobic capacity using the 30-second exhaustive Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT).
Several tests can assess an athlete's peak power (a measure of muscular strength and speed), anaerobic capacity, or both. These tests include the vertical jump test, standing long jump...