Climatic heat stress and performance in the Wingate Anaerobic Test

Abstract

To determine climatic effects on performance of the Wingate Anaerobic Test, 28 children (10.2–12.2 years old) were each tested in three different climates: Neutral (22–23‡ C, 55–60% R.H.), hot-dry (38–39‡ C, 25–30% R.H.), and warm-humid (30‡ C, 85–90% R.H.). The test is an all-out 30 s cycle-ergometer-pedalling in which mean as well as peak power outputs are determined. The children stayed in the climatic chamber for 45 min prior to the test. Mean power, relative to body weight, was higher in the boys after the warm-humid exposure compared with the hot-dry one (P<0.05). No other differences were found. Inter-climate correlations of weight-relative power outputs were 0.83–0.92 and 0.82–0.86 for mean power in the girl and boy groups, respectively, and 0.33–0.72 and 0.49–0.75 for peak power, in the same order. The corresponding values for absolute power outputs were always higher. Reasons why the single detected inter-climate difference is likely to have been a happenstance are discussed, and it is suggested that comparable environmental exposures do not appreciably affect performance of the Wingate Anaerobic Test by children and young adolescents. The practicality and reliability of this test is, therefore, well maintained in “field situations” where climate cannot be strictly controlled.