Low sampling rates bias outcomes from the Wingate test

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate power output (PO) measurement is crucial for assessing anaerobic performance.
• The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is a standard test for evaluating anaerobic capacity.
• The impact of varying sampling rates on WAnT-derived PO measurements requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a method for acquiring PO during the WAnT at a high sampling rate.
• To compare the effects of different sampling rates on PO measurements.
• To determine the optimal sampling rate for reliable WAnT data.

Main Methods:

• 26 male subjects performed two WAnTs on a cycle ergometer.
• Reference PO was calculated at 30 Hz using linear velocity, moment of inertia, and frictional load.
• PO data were subsequently resampled at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 Hz.

Main Results:

• Lower sampling rates significantly reduced both peak and mean PO values.
• Peak PO was attenuated by up to 42.07% at lower sampling rates (e.g., 0.2 Hz vs. 1 Hz, P<0.001).
• At 0.2 Hz, the time to peak PO was delayed by 53.81% (P<0.001) and the fatigue index attenuated by 22.12% (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Sampling rates below 5 Hz lead to significant underestimation of PO and altered fatigue index in the WAnT.
• Given that peak flywheel frequency is approximately 2.3 Hz, a sampling rate of 5 Hz is recommended.
• Using lower sampling rates (e.g., 0.2 Hz) can result in biased errors and misinterpretation of WAnT results.