Wingate Cycling Test Lab Report

Laboratory #3 Anaerobic Power

Eric Norris

9/20/15

(9/21/15)

(KIN 375)

Purpose

The purpose of this lab was to determine the anaerobic power output capabilities of the legs and hips and to test the specific energy systems used during each exercise test. Anaerobic power is the rate of utilization of one anaerobic pathway and without the use of oxygen. During this lab, the Margaria-Kalamen Power test and Wingate cycling test will be used to determine power output capabilities. Power is a measurement of work. Power equals Force*distance divided by time. During anaerobic metabolism, oxygen is low at the level of the mitochondria, and only carbohydrates are being oxidized. There are three main pathways that can be used to generate

ATP for energy. The first pathway is ATP- PC system, the next pathway is glycolysis, and the last pathway is the aerobic metabolism. The ATP- PC system gives a person the energy needed to perform simple motor tasks such as standing up from a chair. This system only lasts about 5-10 seconds. Glycolysis can last from 30 seconds to 2-3 minutes. All three systems lasts different periods of times depending on the persons specialty. The two tests that will be used to determine anaerobic power output are beneficial for people because once the data is collected, the individuals will know how much a system needs to be trained in order for it to last longer and provide more energy while exercising. The anaerobic power lab will help determine the anaerobic power output capabilities of the legs and hips and to test the specific energy systems during each exercise test.
Methods
For the Margaria-Kalamen Power Test, there were 13 subjects, 9 males and 4 females. All subjects ranged form 20-30 years old. The female subjects were 20, 21, and two 2 years old. For the Wingate Power test, the subjects were one 21-year-old male and one 22-year-old female.
The subject’s age and weight was first recorded on the data sheet.

For the Maragaria-Kalamen Power Test, the subject ran up a flight of stairs as fast as possible to determine the power output capabilities of specific muscles including quads, hamstrings, planter and dorsal flexors. The subject started 12” behind the first step. Next, the subject ran up the stairs as fast as possible, taking two steps at a time. As soon as the subject’s foot touched the second stair, a timer started the stopwatch. The timer stopped the stopwatch when the subject reaches the landing. This was a total vertical distance of 1.80 meters. This test becomes difficult for some when having to jump more than one step. Each subject completed the test a total of three times and the times were recorded. Once all three times were recorded for the subject, the experimenter took the best time. To find the power for the male and female subjects, the experimenter used the formula Power=Force x Distance / Time. Force was the body weight of the subject in kilograms. The distance was the vertical distance of the stairs, which was 1.8 meters. The time was the best of the three times recorded for each subject, in seconds. After calculating the power, the experimenter used the classification chart for the Margaria Kalamen power test to classify the subject’s power. After finding the power for each subject, the experimenter averaged the power of all three female subjects to get the female subject mean

power. The same thing was done for the male subjects as well. The mean power helped the experiment classify the overall power of the male group of subjects and the female group of subjects. The Wingate Power test involved pedaling a cycle ergometer at a maximal exertion for 30 seconds. This test measured the anaerobic power output primarily from the larger leg muscles, targeting the quadriceps muscles specificlly. The subject should have performed at their maximal physical limits from the beginning to the end of the test to adequately determine power output. The resistance applied to flywheel was determined by body weight in kilograms X 0.075. Before the subject began the task, the experimenter recorded the weight, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure of each subject. Next, the subject completed a warm up at ½ kilograms of resistance to get the muscles warm for two minutes. The number of revolutions per 5-second interval was counted and recorded. The subject should was encouraged to pedal as hard as they could while remaining seated on the bike. After the 30-second test was completed, the subject continued to pedal so that the blood did not pool in the legs.

Results
Table 1: Margaria Kalamen Power Test Averages and data.
Due to the calculations, the males had an overall higher power output than the females during this test. The average classification for males was good and for the females average.

Subject Peak Time Power (kg-m/sec) Classification
Male 20 1.34 sec 175.9 kg-m/sec Good
Female 22 .88 sec 144.3 kg-m/sec Good
Male 20 .89 sec 156.3 kg-m/sec Average
Male 21 1.05 sec 147.4 kg-m/sec Average
Female 22 1.87 sec 67.9 kg-m/sec Poor
Male 22 1.33 sec 184 kg-m/sec Good
Male 21 .99 sec 140.5 kg-m/sec Average
Male 21 1.29 sec 136.4 kg-m/sec Fair
Female 21 1.18 sec 88 kg-m/sec Fair
Male 20 1.08 sec 106 kg-m/sec Fair
Male 20 1.32 sec 113.5 kg-m/sec Fair
Female 20 2.03 sec 48.3 kg-m/sec Poor
Male 30 1.13 sec 112.3 kg-m/sec Fair
Mean N/A 124.7 Good

Table 2: Wingate Power Test Data
The table below displays the rest heart rate, blood pressure, gender, age, and weight of the two subjects. This information is important because it lets the experimenter know if the subjects are healthy enough to participate. From this table, the experimenter is also able to figure out certain health factors, risks and benefits of the test.

Subject Body Mass (kg) Resting Heart Rate Resting blood pressure Fatigue Index (%) Avg. and Peak Power
Male 21 86 kg 76 136/88 <10% -391.5 W
-454.6 W
B/t .005
Female 22 68.1 kg 76 116/64 45% -460 W
-720 W
B/t .006

Graph 1: Wingate Power Test – Power Outputs per 5 seconds over time
This graph shows that there is a negative linear relationship between power output and time. This is because the subject is fatigued from using the ATP-PC system.

Graph 2: Margaria Kalamen Test- Average Male vs. Female Subject Power
The bar graph shows that the males had an overall higher average power output than the females. This is probably due to the males have more lean mass or muscle to produce higher power outputs during physical activity.

Discussion
For the Margaria- Kalamen test the average power for the male subjects was 141.5 kg-m/sec.

The female subject’s average power was 106 kg-m/sec. The average power output male were classified as good and female subjects were classified as average according to the Magaria- Kalamen classification chart. The mean power output for the male subjects was higher than the female subjects. Males have more Type II or fast twitch fibers, which are better for fast and powerful movements like the power test or any quick pace activity. Females tend to have more Type I or slow twitch fibers which are better for endurance exercises, such as running or biking. The first time running up the stairs was the slowest time for most of the subjects. This was probably because the subjects’ had to adapt to the task. The second trial was the fastest because the subjects’ were familiar with the task. The third trial for most of the subjects was slower than the second trial but faster than the first trial, most likely due to being tired. An error that could have occurred was the reaction time of the timer. The timer started timing when they saw the subject’s foot hit the first step. However, the time was not as accurate as possible because there is a delayed response before the timer hits the start button and the foot touching the step at a fast speed. Another error was that the stairs were not the standard set for the test. The vertical distance of the stairs is supposed to be 1.8 meters, but

the vertical distance of set of stairs used was unknown. The experimenters assumed that the stairs were 1.8 meters when doing calculations. An unusual disadvantage during the test was that some of the subjects were having difficulty performing the task due to height. The taller someone is, the harder time the individual will have doing this task because it is easier to take three steps. The same occurs with shorter individuals, except those people want to take one step at a time nstead of two during this test. For the Wingate test, the mean power output for the male subject was 391.5 Watts and the female subject was 460 Watts. Based on the male subject’s weight, it was calculated to set the resistance for his bike to 6.44 kg. The female subject’s bike was set to 5.1 kg of resistance based on her weight. The female subject’s absolute peak power was 6720 watts between 0-5 seconds. The lowest power output was during 20-25 seconds and 300 watts. The male subject’s absolute peak power was 454.6 watts between 0-5 seconds. The lowest power output was during 20-25 seconds and 227.3 watts. The power was constant in male from 0-5 seconds to 15-20 seconds. While males have more of those fast twitch fibers that should show the males with a higher output, that was not the case in this experiment. This could have been a result of pervious training or genetics between the two people. Taking vital signs before the subject performs the test is important to make sure that they are no underlying health risks and that they are able to do the task. Both subjects had a healthy blood pressure. The Wingate test is a good test but may not be the best test for anaerobic capacity because the subject goes through the ATP-PC system, which only lasts for 10 seconds and the test, is 30 seconds. After this the glycolysis system begins to be used. Glycolysis lasts from 30 seconds to 2-3 minutes, but this particular test is too short to observe or evaluate this system.

Conclusion
During the anaerobic power lab, the experimenter was able to determine the anaerobic power output of the subjects’ using the Wingate and Margaria- Kalamen power tests. From the data collected during the Margaria- Kalamen test, the experimenter concluded that the averages for the male were good and females were classified as average. The age group for both gender subjects’ was 20-30 years old. Some of the subjects could be endurance athletes, meaning that the aerobic system is better trained for long distance exercises, but the glycolysis system must not been trained to be put through long periods. The Wingate power test provided a lot of information because heart rate, blood pressure, age, gender, and weight were taken. This test helps people with training the glycolysis system, for powerful and fast exercises, or the aerobic system, for endurance exercises. The Wingate power test displayed that females have higher power outputs than males during high intensity exercises. The male ranked extremely low for the Wingate classification. The male and female subjects were both healthy enough to participate in the experiment and both recovered fairly well after completing the test. The only errors that occurred during both tests were the stairs not being the accurate vertical distance of 1.8 meters for the Margaria- Kalamen test and the reaction time of the timer having a slight delay between starting the timer and when the subject’s foot actually touched the first step. The Maragaria-Kalamen experiment supported, while the Wingate experiment did not supported evidence from prior knowledge and other research that a male subject’s overall power output is usually higher than a females due to a higher lean body mass and more fast twitch muscle fibers.