Original articles  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2007 June;47(2):186-90

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Relationship between V.O2max and repeated sprint ability using non-motorised treadmill ergometry

Brown P. I. ^{1, 2}, Hughes M. G. ², Tong R. J. ²

¹ Division of Sport Science Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK 2 School of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between maximal oxygen uptake (V.O2max) and repeated sprint ability (RSA) using non-motorised treadmill ergometry.
Methods. Ten male participants (mean [standard deviation] V.O2max: 57.5 [2.1] mL.kg-1.min-1) completed a RSA test (10, 6-s sprints with 34-s recovery) on a non-motorised treadmill. Oxygen consumption (V.O2) and heart rate (HR) were measured during the RSA test and the decrement of performance fatigue (%d) was calculated for the performance indices mean maximal speed (MxSp) and average power output (AvPO).
Results. There were significant relationships between V.O2max and the %d MxSp (r=-0.75, P<0.05) and V.O2max and the %d AvPO (r=-0.69, P<0.05). There were also significant relationships between V.O2max and HR recovery (r=0.56, P<0.05) and V.O2max and V.O2 recovery (r=0.7, P<0.01). However, while no significant relationships were reported between HR recovery and %d MxSp (r= 0.45, P>0.05) and HR recovery and %d AvPO (r=-0.52, P>0.05), significant relationships were observed between V.O2 recovery and %d MxSp (r=-0.75, P<0.05) and between V.O2 recovery and %d AvPO (r=-0.77, P<0.05).
Conclusion. The findings of this study suggest that V.O2max may be an important factor determining RSA during repeated, high-intensity running-based exercise, such as field hockey, rugby and soccer.