Int J Sports Med 1996; 17: S103-S108
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-972909
Physiology and Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Inclination on the Results of the Maximal Anaerobic Running Test

A. Nummela1 , N. Andersson2 , K. Häkkinen2 , H. Rusko1
  • 1Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 2Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 March 2007 (online)

This study investigated the effect of treadmill inclination on the maximal anaerobic running test (MART). Ten male subjects ran a 20-m speed test on a track to determine the maximal running velocity (V20m) and performed three MARTs at the grades of 1°, 4° and 7° in a random order. Each MART included n · 20-s sprints at gradually increased velocity and counter-movement jumps (CMJ) which were performed before and after the exhausting sprints. At each grade, the power (oxygen demand) of the sprints was determined by extrapolating the individual steady state oxygen uptake of three submaximal running velocities measured separately at the corresponding grades. Maximal power (Pmax), power at 10 mM (P10mM) and 5 mM (P5mM) blood lactate levels as well as peak blood lactate concentration (peak BLa) were determined at each MART. The Pmax increased from 94.1 ± 8.8 and 110.0 ± 10.2 to 119.5 ± 8.0 ml · kg-1 · min-1 when the tread mill inclination increased from 1° and 4° to 7°, respectively (p < 0.001). P10mM and P5mM also increased with the inclination (p < 0.001). Correlation coefficients of the Pmax with CMJrest and V20m were 0.77 and 0.69 at the grade of 1°, 0.75 and 0.59 at the grade of 4°, and 0.62 and 0.42 at the grade of 7°, respectively. The increased peak BLa (p < 0.01) with the treadmill inclination suggests that lactic capacity was not completely used at the grades of 1° and 4°. In conclusion, the maximal power increased with the grade of uphill running in the MART. Furthermore, the present results suggest that the importance of force and velocity components of the neuromuscular system decreased and the importance of metabolic component increased with the increased grade of the uphill running.

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