A NEW VALIDATED ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE-TEST

The extensive use of performance tests in diet intervention studies mi rrors the importance of such a measurement. Although many different en durance performance tests have been used in the past, the majority of these different protocols has never been validated. In this study repr oducibility of three different endurance performance tests was evaluat ed. Thirty well-trained subjects were matched on age, weight, and Wmax and divided into three subgroups. Each group of subjects performed on e of three exercise protocols: protocol (A) consisted of cycling at 75 % Wmax until exhaustion. In (B) subjects received a preload of 45 min 70% Wmax and then performed as much work as possible in 15 min. (C) co nsisted of a time trial, in which subjects had to complete a preset am ount of work as fast as possible. Each subject performed one of the tr ials six times. Coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for each protocol. CV(A) was 26.6%, CV(B) 3.49%, and CV(C) 3.35%. It was conclu ded that reproducibility of a test at 75% Wmax until exhaustion is poo r and these rests are not reliable. Time trial protocols may result in better performance evaluation.