Reliability and Validity of a 20-s Alternative to the Wingate Anaerobic Test in Team Sport Male Athletes

The intent of this study was to evaluate relative and absolute reliability of the 20-s anaerobic test (WAnT(20)) versus the WAnT(30) and to verify how far the various indices of the 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT(30)) could be predicted from the WAnT(20) data in male athletes. The participants were Exercise Science majors (age: 21.5±1.6 yrs, stature: 0.183±0.08 m, body mass: 81.2±10.9 kg) who participated regularly in team sports. In Phase I, 41 participants performed duplicate WAnT(20) and WAnT(30) tests to assess reliability. In Phase II, 31 participants performed one trial each of the WAnT(20) and WAnT(30) to determine the ability of the WAnT(20) to predict components of the WAnT(30). In Phase III, 31 participants were used to cross-validate the prediction equations developed in Phase II. Respective intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for peak power output (PPO) (ICC = 0.98 and 0.95) and mean power output (MPO) (ICC 0.98 and 0.90) did not differ significantly between WAnT(20) and WAnT(30). ICCs for minimal power output (PO(min)) and fatigue index (FI) were poor for both tests (range 0.53 to 0.76). Standard errors of the means (SEM) for PPO and MPO were less than their smallest worthwhile changes (SWC) in both tests; however, PO(min) and FI values were “marginal,” with SEM values greater than their respective SWCs for both tests values. Stepwise regression analysis showed that MPO had the highest coefficient of predictability (R = 0.97), with PO(min) and FI considerable lower (R = 0.71 and 0.41 respectively). Cross-validation showed insignificant bias with limits of agreement of 0.99±1.04, 6.5±92.7 W, and 1.6±9.8% between measured and predicted MPO, PO(min), and FI, respectively. WAnT(20) offers a reliable and valid test of leg anaerobic power in male athletes and could replace the classic WAnT(30).