Methods of anaerobic power assessment (a statistical program for the IBM PC)

Many sports activities that involve brief, high-intensity exercise tend to be anaerobic. To improve or optimize anaerobic performance, assessment of anaerobic power is necessary. A variety of tests have been developed, three of which are used widely; these are the Margaria step test, the Wingate cycle ergometer test, and the 50-yd dash. Estimates of anaerobic power requiring a minimal amount of equipment can be obtained using field tests such as the 50-yd dash. More quantitative measurements can be made using the Margaria step test or the Wingate cycle ergometer test. Whereas these tests have identifiable limitations, they are relatively easy to administer and require only a minimum of equipment. Because maximal anaerobic power is a kind of work important in many common sports activities, the measurement of anaerobic power should be considered with other routine assessments for optimizing performance.