Assessing Young People's Exercise Using Anaerobic Performance Tests

This review critically appraises the anaerobic tests which may be used to evaluate the exercise performance of young people (aged 8‐18 years). None of the tests reviewed enables accurate measurement of all components of anaerobic performance. Consequently, the test of choice depends on the research question being asked and the characteristics of the subject cohort being tested. Young people are not mini adults, therefore in deciding on the appropriate test for assessing their anaerobic performance, attention must be given to the validity and reliability of the test with youngsters. Of the tests which quantify peak anaerobic power, the vertical jump test is the least expensive to administer. However assumptions about the actual force generated and velocity in the ballistic task have to be made. The stair‐running test is also easy and inexpensive to administer, but like the vertical jump, it is difficult to ascertain the exact muscle groups which contribute to the performance. The force‐velocity test may be the method of choice for determining peak anaerobic power and for studying the force‐velocity characteristics of muscle during cycling. The test however, takes a longer time to complete and current data show an accumulation of blood lactate concentration between successive sprints, which may have a detrimental impact on power generation. Monoarticular isokinetic machines are expensive but can best determine peak torque and force‐velocity relationships of single monoarticular contractions. Protocols, however need to be standardised and calibration methods instituted. The equipment may also need to be modified when testing young people. Of the tests which quantify local muscular endurance, treadmill sprinting yields the highest total work and large muscle mass is involved in the task. The method however requires several assumptions to calculate mechanical power, and it is also difficult to determine which muscles contribute to the exercise. The main disadvantage of the test is that young people are often afraid to exert themselves maximally because of fear of tripping. The use of a non‐motorised treadmill may alleviate this fear to some extent but young people need to be adequately habituated to the relatively novel task. Equipment is also expensive and modifications are necessary to take into account the horizontal and vertical forces that are generated as well as the system inertia of the non‐motorised treadmill. The tests of choice to quantify both anaerobic power and local muscular endurance of the legs are isokinetic or isotonic cycle protocols lasting 30 to 60 seconds. Isokinetic protocols require expensive ergometers but provide useful information about force‐velocity relationships. The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is the most popular isotonic protocol and has been extensively evaluated. One criticism of the WAnT is that the 30‐second test is too short to maximise anaerobic ATP yield. Longer protocols, however, result in a higher aerobic contribution to the test, have low subject compliance and require lower applied forces which may not optimise peak power outputs.