Physiological testing in elite athletes is beneficial when tests are reliable, valid, sport-specific, and clearly communicated to athletes and coaches.
May inform athlete testing protocols; leaves open sport-specific validation in prospective studies.
Success in sport at the elite level is dependent on, (i) athletes coinciding their peak fitness with important competitions; and (ii) at the same time remaining physically and mentally healthy and free of injury. The athlete has a better chance of achieving these goals if the support staff (coaching, medical and scientific staff) implement a well-constructed programme of gathering objective and subjective data from the athlete. This programme should include screening for the risk of injury and ill health and testing for fitness and sport-specific parameters that are associated with physical performance. Training intensity and the subjective response to each session should also be included in the monitoring programme. For endurance sports, training status can also be monitored via measurement of the physiological response to a constant submaximal workload. For the testing programme to be valid, the following criteria have to be fulfilled: 1) the tests should be reliable and valid; 2) the typical error of measurement of each test should be determined so that the results can be interpreted correctly; 3) the testing programme should be designed to answer specific questions relevant to the unique demands of training and preparation for a particular sport; and 4) results must be communicated clearly to the athlete and coach with particular emphasis on the practical application of the data.
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Mike Lambert (2006) studied this question.
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