Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the intermittent critical velocity (ICV) test and assess critical rest interval (CRI) during repeated-sprint exercise. The ICV test is used to examine the linear relationship between total distance and time-to-exhaustion during interval exercise, yielding a repeatable, moderate-intensity parameter (ICV), a high-intensity exhaustive parameter (W′), and CRI. CRI is the theoretical rest period needed to complete a series of repeated bouts of exercise without fatigue. Twenty-four healthy college-aged men (mean ± SD; age 22.7 ± 2.9 years; weight 85.8 ± 15.3 kg; VO2max 50.7 ± 8.8 ml/kg/min) and women (mean ± SD; age 21.4 ± 2.3 years; weight 58.9 ± 5.2 kg; VO2max 46.4 ± 4.4 ml/kg/min) participants completed two ICV tests (T1 and T2), using 10 s repeated sprints to exhaustion during separate sessions of treadmill running. Linear regression was used to determine ICV and W′, while CRI was calculated using the relationship between the number of intervals completed and a variant of ICV. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for ICV, W′, and CRI were 0.89 (T1 4.42 ± 0.55 m/s; T2 4.34 ± 0.67 m/s), 0.80 (T1 125.6 ± 62.7 m; T2 144.6 ± 65.4 m), and 0.59 (T1 23.9 ± 2.0 s; T2 24.5 ± 2.6 s), respectively. These moderate to high ICC values indicate reliable measurements between ICV trials. Additionally, the evaluation of CRI demonstrated the attainment of a steady-state heart rate (94% of maximum) during a separate session of repeated supramaximal treadmill sprints. The ICV test during treadmill running provides reliable ICV and W′ measures, as well as an estimated recovery time via CRI for men and women.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey SJ, Wilkerson DP, Dimenna FJ, Jones AM (2009) Influence of repeated sprint training on pulmonary O2 uptake and muscle deoxygenation kinetics in humans. J Appl Physiol 106:1875–1887
Berthoin S, Baquet G, Dupont G, Van Praagh E (2006) Critical velocity during continuous and intermittent exercises in children. Eur J Appl Physiol 98:132–138
Billaut F, Bishop D (2009) Muscle fatigue in males and females during multiple-sprint exercise. Sports Med 39:257–278
Billaut F, Smith K (2009) Sex alters impact of repeated bouts of sprint exercise on neuromuscular activity in trained athletes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 34:689–699
Buchheit M, Laursen PB, Millet GP, Pactat F, Ahmaidi S (2008) Predicting intermittent running performance: critical velocity versus endurance index. Int J Sports Med 29:307–315
Bull AJ, Housh TJ, Johnson GO, Perry SR (2000) Effect of mathematical modeling on the estimation of critical power. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:526–530
Cheneviere X, Malatesta D, Gojanovic B, Borrani F (2010) Differences in whole-body fat oxidation kinetics between cycling and running. Eur J Appl Physiol 109:1037–1045
Cureton K, Bishop P, Hutchinson P, Newland H, Vickery S, Zwiren L (1986) Sex difference in maximal oxygen uptake. Effect of equating haemoglobin concentration. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 54:656–660
Day JR, Rossiter HB, Coats EM, Skasick A, Whipp BJ (2003) The maximally attainable VO2 during exercise in humans: the peak vs maximum issue. J Appl Physiol 95:1901–1907
Dupont G, Blondel N, Lensel G, Berthoin S (2002) Critical velocity and time spent at a high level of VO2 for short intermittent runs at supramaximal velocities. Can J Appl Physiol 27:103–115
Dupont G, Akakpo K, Berthoin S (2004) The effect of in-season, high-intensity interval training in soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 18:584–589
Dupont G, McCall A, Prieur F, Millet GP, Berthoin S (2010) Faster oxygen uptake kinetics during recovery is related to better repeated sprinting ability. Eur J Appl Physiol 110:627–634
Esbjornsson M, Bulow J, Norman B, Simonsen L, Nowak J, Rooyackers O, Kaijser L, Jansson E (2006) Adipose tissue extracts plasma ammonia after sprint exercise in women and men. J Appl Physiol 101:1576–1580
Florence S, Weir JP (1997) Relationship of critical velocity to marathon running performance. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 75:274–278
Fukuda DH, Smith AE, Kendall KL, Cramer JT, Stout JR (2011) The determination of critical rest interval from the intermittent critical velocity test in club-level collegiate hockey and rugby players. J Strength Cond Res 25:889–895
Gaitanos GC, Williams C, Boobis LH, Brooks S (1993) Human muscle metabolism during intermittent maximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 75:712–719
Glaister M (2005) Multiple sprint work: physiological responses, mechanisms of fatigue and the influence of aerobic fitness. Sports Med 35:757–777
Helgerud J, Engen LC, Wisloff U, Hoff J (2001) Aerobic endurance training improves soccer performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 33:1925–1931
Housh TJ, Cramer JT, Bull AJ, Johnson GO, Housh DJ (2001) The effect of mathematical modeling on critical velocity. Eur J Appl Physiol 84:469–475
Jones AM, Vanhatalo A, Burnley M, Morton RH, Poole DC (2010) Critical power: implications for determination of VO2max and exercise tolerance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 42:1876–1890
Kachouri M, Vandewalle H, Billat V, Huet M, Thomaidis M, Jousselin E, Monod H (1996) Critical velocity of continuous and intermittent running exercise. An example of the limits of the critical power concept. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 73:484–487
Kranenburg KJ, Smith DJ (1996) Comparison of critical speed determined from track running and treadmill tests in elite runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc 28:614–618
Krustrup P, Mohr M, Steensberg A, Bencke J, Kjaer M, Bangsbo J (2006) Muscle and blood metabolites during a soccer game: implications for sprint performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38:1165–1174
Laurent CM, Green JM, Bishop PA, Sjokvist J, Schumacker RE, Richardson MT, Curtner-Smith M (2010) Effect of gender on fatigue and recovery following maximal intensity repeated sprint performance. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 50:243–253
Maud PJ, Foster C (2006) Physiological assessment of human fitness. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Monod H, Scherrer J (1965) The work capacity of a synergic muscular group. Ergonomics 8:329–338
Moritani T, Nagata A, deVries HA, Muro M (1981) Critical power as a measure of physical work capacity and anaerobic threshold. Ergonomics 24:339–350
Murgatroyd SR, Ferguson C, Ward SA, Whipp BJ, Rossiter HB (2011) Pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics as a determinant of high-intensity exercise tolerance in humans. J Appl Physiol 110:1598–1606
Nybo L, Secher NH (2004) Cerebral perturbations provoked by prolonged exercise. Prog Neurobiol 72:223–261
Peake J, Wilson G, Hordern M, Suzuki K, Yamaya K, Nosaka K, Mackinnon L, Coombes JS (2004) Changes in neutrophil surface receptor expression, degranulation, and respiratory burst activity after moderate- and high-intensity exercise. J Appl Physiol 97:612–618
Pepper ML, Housh TJ, Johnson GO (1992) The accuracy of the critical velocity test for predicting time to exhaustion during treadmill running. Int J Sports Med 13:121–124
Pereira G, de Freitas PB, Rodacki A, Ugrinowitsch C, Fowler N, Kokubun E (2009) Evaluation of an innovative critical power model in intermittent vertical jump. Int J Sports Med 30:802–807
Psotta R, Bunc V, Hendl J, Tenney D, Heller J (2011) Is repeated-sprint ability of soccer players predictable from field-based or laboratory physiological tests? J Sports Med Phys Fitness 51:18–25
Shrout PE, Fleiss JL (1979) Intraclass correlations: uses in assessing rater reliability. Psychol Bull 86:420–428
Sparling PB (1980) A meta-analysis of studies comparing maximal oxygen uptake in men and women. Res Q Exerc Sport 51:542–552
Spencer M, Bishop D, Dawson B, Goodman C (2005) Physiological and metabolic responses of repeated-sprint activities: specific to field-based team sports. Sports Med 35:1025–1044
Stone NM, Kilding AE (2009) Aerobic conditioning for team sport athletes. Sports Med 39:615–642
Weir JP (2005) Quantifying test–retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the SEM. J Strength Cond Res 19:231–240
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by David C. Poole.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fukuda, D.H., Smith, A.E., Kendall, K.L. et al. The reliability of the intermittent critical velocity test and assessment of critical rest interval in men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 1197–1205 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2076-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2076-z