Measuring intermittent exercise performance using shuttle running.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• The Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) is established for assessing intermittent exercise capacity.
• Prescribed workloads in existing tests limit the quantification of individual performance variables.
• There is a need for more sensitive measures of performance in sports requiring variable pacing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To modify the LIST by incorporating self-paced exercise blocks.
• To assess the reliability and sensitivity of the modified LIST (LIST-P) for quantifying performance variables.
• To evaluate the LIST-P's utility in multiple-sprint sports research.

Main Methods:

• Sixteen male games players completed two LIST-P trials separated by at least 7 days.
• The LIST-P included four 15-minute prescribed-pace blocks and two 15-minute self-paced running blocks.
• Key performance variables such as distance covered and mean speed were monitored during self-paced segments.

Main Results:

• Total distance covered and mean speed during self-paced exercise showed high reliability between trials (P = 0.10).
• Reliability indices, including Pearson's correlation (r=0.89-0.90) and ICC (0.88), confirmed test consistency.
• Sprint times also demonstrated similarity between trials (P = 0.29), indicating good test-retest performance.

Conclusions:

• The modified LIST-P, integrating self-paced exercise, is a reliable tool for performance assessment.
• This approach allows for the quantification of key performance variables not measurable with prescribed workloads alone.
• The LIST-P shows potential as a sensitive measure for research in multiple-sprint sports.