Low Sampling Rates Bias Outcomes from the Wingate Test

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to apply a simple method for acquisition of power output (PO) during the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) at a high sampling rate (S _R ) and to compare the effect of lower S _R on the measurements extracted from the PO. 26 male subjects underwent 2 WAnTs on a cycle ergometer. The reference PO was calculated at 30 Hz as a function of the linear velocity, the moment of inertia and the frictional load. The PO was sampled at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 Hz. Both the peak (16.03±2.22 W·kg⁻¹) and mean PO (10.34±1.01 W·kg⁻¹) presented lower relative values when the S _R was lower. Peak PO was attenuated by 0.29–42.07% for decreasing sampling rates, resulting in different values for 0.2 and 1 Hz (P<0.001). When the S _R was 0.2 Hz, the time to peak was delayed by 53.81% (P<0.001) and the fatigue index was attenuated by 22.12% (P<0.001). In conclusion, due to the differences achieved here and the fact that the peak flywheel frequency is around 2.3 Hz, we strongly recommend that the PO be sampled at 5 Hz instead of 0.2 Hz in order to avoid biased errors and misunderstandings of the WAnT results.

Key words

anaerobic power - sampling frequency - nyquist theorem - ergometry