Familiarization and Reliability of Multiple Sprint Running Performance Indices

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate the time-course of the familiarization process associated with a test of multiple sprint running performance and to determine the reliability of various performance indices once familiarization had been established. Eleven physically active men (mean age: 21 +/- 2 years) completed 4 multiple sprint running trials (12 x 30 m; repeated at 35-s intervals) with 7 days between trials. All testing was conducted indoors, and times were recorded by twin-beam photocells. Results revealed no apparent learning effects as evidenced by no significant (p > 0.05) between-trial differences in measures of fastest or mean 30-m sprint time. Within-subject test-retest reliability determined over 4 trials by coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed excellent reliability for measures of fastest and mean sprint times (CV range: 1.34-2.24%; ICC range: 0.79-0.94). Pre- and posttrial blood lactate concentrations showed good reliability when judged in context with typical values (CV range: 12.08-18.21%; ICC range: 0.72-0.78). In contrast, and in line with previous research, fatigue data showed much greater variability (CV: 26.43%; ICC: 0.66). The results of this study suggest that high degrees of test-retest reliability can be obtained in many multiple sprint running indices without the need for prior familiarization.

Predictors of maximal short-term power outputs in basketball players 14–16 years

“…Indices of fatigue on both the cycle-ergometer and repeated-sprint tests have moderate levels reliability (Bar-Or 1987;Glaister et al 2007Glaister et al , 2008. Practical interpretation of fatigue scores is also problematic (Oliver 2009).…”

Desenvolvimento de um método de familiarização individualizado para saltos verticais

“…Therefore, although some studies did not find the familiarization process necessary, [11][12][13] our results demonstrate that the proposed familiarization method may be beneficial not only at the practical field, but also, at the research setting. In fact, our data is in agreement with previous research suggesting the need for a familiarization process prior to performance testing as considered before.…”

“…10 However, other studies suggest that familiarization procedures are not necessary prior to sprinting and vertical jumping tests, when utilized to monitor performance. [11][12][13] The discrepancy between studies may have been motivated by some methodological conditions that may knowingly affect the results, including: (i) the familiarization protocols were different between the studies, with an arbitrarily determined number of jumps and sessions; (ii) as the objective of the familiarization process is to reduce the intra-subject variation, a protocol with a fixed number of sessions and repetitions does not seem ideal, since it does not attend to the specific needs of each individual; (iii) some studies have not performed instability comparisons between pre and post-familiarization scores; (iv) most comparisons took into account only the best jumping performance or the average of a fixed number of the jumps, thus disregarding intra-subject variation; (v) most studies have calculated only group instability which does not accurately represent the type of expected stability after a familiarization process (i.e. the reduction of errors associated to each individual's performance); (vi) some studies present small sample sizes when compared with others evaluating reliability; 14,15 (vii) some studies have utilized the Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as a reliability indicator, whereas Weir 16 suggests that the standard error of measurement (SEM) is a more accurate indicator of reliability.…”

The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on asoccer specific conditioning test in division III soccer players

“…13 Gaitanos et al 14 reported no significant differences between NaHCO3 ingestion and placebo in power output dur-ing 10 × 6 s non-motorized treadmill sprinting. Treadmillbased tests, however, do not involve eccentric muscle actions, such as the changing of directions that occurs during teamsport competitions.…”