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Energetics of male field-sport athletes during the 3-min all-out test for linear and shuttle-based running

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

All-out, non-steady state running makes for difficult comparisons regarding linear and shuttle running; yet such differences remain an important distinction for field-based sports. The purpose of the study was to determine whether an energetic approach could be used to differentiate all-out linear from shuttle running.

Methods

Fifteen male field-sport athletes volunteered for the study (means ± SD): age, 21.53 ± 2.23 years; height, 1.78 ± 0.68 m; weight, 83.85 ± 11.73 kg. Athletes completed a graded exercise test, a 3-min linear all-out test and two all-out shuttle tests of varied distances (25 m and 50 m shuttles).

Results

Significant differences between the all-out tests were found for critical speed (CS) [F(8.97), p < 0.001), D′ (finite capacity for running speeds exceeding critical speed) [F(7.83), p = 0.001], total distance covered [F(85.31), p < 0.001], peak energetic cost (\({{\rm EC}}\)) [F(45.60), p < 0.001], peak metabolic power (\(\dot {P}\)) [F(23.36), p < 0.001], average \({\text{EC}}\) [F(548.74), p < 0.001], maximal speed [F(22.87), p < 0.001] and fatigue index [F(3.93), p = 0.027]. Non-significant differences were evident for average \(\dot {P}\) [F(2.47), p = 0.097], total \({\text{EC}}\) [F(0.86), p = 0.416] and total \(\dot {P}\) [F(2.11), p = 0.134].

Conclusions

The energetic approach provides insights into performance characteristics that differentiate linear from shuttle running, yet surprising similarities between tests were evident. Key parameters from all-out linear and shuttle running appear to be partly interchangeable between tests, indicating that the final choice between linear and shuttle testing should be based on the requirements of the sport.

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Abbreviations

ADP:

Adenosine diphosphate

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

AOT:

All-out test

\({\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}\) :

Carbon dioxide

\({\text{CS}}\) :

Critical speed

\({\text{C}}{{\text{S}}_{25\,{\text{m}}}}\) :

Critical speed derived from an all-out shuttle test of 25 m

\({\text{C}}{{\text{S}}_{50\,{\text{m}}}}\) :

Critical speed derived from an all-out shuttle test of 50 m

\({\text{C}}{{\text{S}}_{{\text{linear}}}}\) :

Critical speed derived from a linear all-out test (i.e. around a sprint track)

\(D^{\prime}\) :

Maximal distance achievable at speed exceeding CS

\({\text{EC}}\) :

Energetic cost

\({\text{ED}}\) :

Equivalent distance

\({\text{ES}}\) :

Equivalent slope

\({\text{EM}}\) :

Equivalent mass

\(g\) :

Gravitational acceleration

\({\text{GXT}}\) :

Graded exercise test

\({{\text{H}}^+}\) :

Hydrogen ion

\({{\text{O}}_2}\) :

Oxygen

\(\dot {P}\) :

Metabolic power

\({P_{\text{i}}}\) :

Inorganic phosphate

\({S_{{\text{avg}}}}\) :

Average speed attained

\({S_{{\text{max}}}}\) :

Maximal speed attained during all-out running

\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{max}}}}\) :

Maximal oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants who took part in this study, specifically the coaches Wayne Iveson, Andre Goosen and Jayde Howitz for allowing us access to their players. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Movement Science Department, Nelson Mandela University, University Way, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, 6001, South Africa

    Mark Kramer & Rosa Du Randt

  2. Psychology Department, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    Mark Watson

  3. Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, UT, USA

    Robert W. Pettitt

Authors
  1. Mark Kramer
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  2. Rosa Du Randt
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  3. Mark Watson
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  4. Robert W. Pettitt
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Contributions

MK and RWP conceived and designed research. MK conducted experiments. MK and RWP analysed data. MK, RWP, RDR and MW wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark Kramer.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. No financial support was received.

Additional information

Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Kramer, M., Du Randt, R., Watson, M. et al. Energetics of male field-sport athletes during the 3-min all-out test for linear and shuttle-based running. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 477–486 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-4047-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-4047-0

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