Sex And Postural Differences On Anaerobic Performance Metrics During The Wingate Anaerobic Test

PURPOSE: To investigate differences in anaerobic power performance metrics and recovery blood lactic acid (BLA) between sexes performing the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) in different postures (seated-SIT; standing-STD; and a combination of both-COMB). METHODS: 28 individuals (14 males (M); 21.57 ± 1.09 years, 86.7 ± 12.26 kg, 180.59 ± 5.48 cm, and 14 females (F); 21.07 ± 0.92 years, 63.7 ± 9.76 kg, 165.15 ± 5.87 cm) completed three WAnT (SIT, STD, COMB). All subjects had a VO2peak between 30-50 ml/kg/min. Randomized postural WAnT sessions were separated by a minimum of 24 hrs. Testing sessions began with a 5-min warm up, pedaling against 3.2% body mass (BM) with three 4-6 sec sprints at 7.5% BM separated by 60 sec. WAnT used 7.5% BM, followed by a 5-min cool down against no resistance, then 25-min of seated rest. Finger capillary puncture collected BLA at baseline, immediate pre-test and post-test, then for 5-min intervals up to 30-min. RESULTS: M produced greater peak power than F (M: 657.79 + 216.54 W; F: 447.57 + 150.40 W), average power (M: 498.25 + 141.88 W; F: 344.54 + 106.83 W), power at maximum speed (M: 755.87 + 254.90 W; F: 502.54 + 165.87 W), and total energy (M: 14867.55 + 4286.05 J; F: 10465.62 + 3218.74 J) in all postures. M had a larger power drop (M: 330.253 + 172.63 W; F: 208.26 + 112.59 W), power drop/s (M: 11.05 + 5.76 Ws; F: 6.98 + 3.82Ws), and minimum power (M: 327.52 + 114.37 W; F: 247.92 + 90.31 W) in all postures. COMB had a greater power drop (%) (p = 0.047) and power at maximum speed (W) (p = 0.017) compared to SIT. There were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) between sex and posture for all other power indices. M produced higher BLA when compared to F at 10-min (p = 0.025), 15-min (p = 0.032), and 25-min (p = 0.041) of recovery. No significant differences (p> 0.05) were found comparing sex and BLA at baseline, pre-test, post-test, 5-min, 20-min, and 30-min of recovery. COMB produced significantly lower (p = 0.046) BLA concentrations at 30-min of recovery when compared to SIT. No significant differences (p> 0.05) were recorded comparing posture and BLA at baseline, pre-test, post-test, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25-min into BLA recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Comparable power outcomes occurred relative to body mass between sexes. The WAnT can be performed in SIT, STD, or COMB postures; however, comparisons should be made using the same posture.