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European Journal of Applied Physiology

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Open Access 01-10-2021 | Original Article

The ramp and all-out exercise test to determine critical power: validity and robustness to manipulations in body position

Authors: Richie P. Goulding, Denise M. Roche, Simon Marwood

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 10/2021

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a contiguous ramp and all-out exercise test could accurately determine critical power (CP) in a single laboratory visit during both upright and supine cycle exercise.

Methods

Healthy males completed maximal ramp-incremental exercise on a cycle ergometer in the upright (n = 15) and supine positions (n = 8), with task failure immediately followed by a 3-min all-out phase for determination of end-test power (EP). On separate days, participants undertook four constant-power tests in either the upright or supine positions with the limit of tolerance ranging from ~ 2 to 15 min for determination of CP.

Results

During upright exercise, EP was highly correlated with (R² = 0.93, P < 0.001) and not different from CP (CP = 221 ± 40 W vs. EP = 226 ± 46 W, P = 0.085, 95% limits of agreement − 30, 19 W). During supine exercise, EP was also highly correlated with (R² = 0.94, P < 0.001) and not different from CP (CP = 140 ± 42 W vs. EP = 136 ± 40 W, P = 0.293, 95% limits of agreement − 16, 24 W).

Conclusion

The present data suggest that EP derived from a contiguous ramp all-out exercise test is not different from the gold-standard method of CP determination during both upright and supine cycle exercise when assessed at the group level. However, the wide limits of agreement observed within the present study suggest that EP and CP should not be used interchangeably.

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Title: The ramp and all-out exercise test to determine critical power: validity and robustness to manipulations in body position
Authors: Richie P. Goulding
Denise M. Roche
Simon Marwood
Publication date: 01-10-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 10/2021
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04739-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The ramp and all-out exercise test to determine critical power: validity and robustness to manipulations in body position

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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