Kinetic and kinematic analysis of the upper body Wingate test using different relative loads

The Upper Body Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is widely used as an assessment tool in sports training, rehabilitation, and exercise physiology. This test involves participants pedalling an ergometer with their upper body against a fixed resistance for 30 seconds, providing valuable insights into anaerobic power and capacity. In recent years, researchers have turned their attention to understanding the influence of sex differences and relative load on performance outcomes in this test; however, to our knowledge, no previous study describes these differences in terms of kinetics, kinematics, and performance outcomes. This thesis presents the results of an experiment involving 18 participants, equally divided between males and females, to investigate the presence of significant sex-related differences and the impact of relative load and crank position in the upper body WAnT. The participants were recreationally active university-students, aged between 20 and 30. All participants were familiarized with the Upper Body Wingate Anaerobic Test protocol to minimize learning effects. Each participant performed the test at three different resistances, 3, 4, and 5% of their body weight. The primary measures recorded were crank forces, video capture, and performance variables, including peak power, mean power, and fatigue index. The results indicated significant differences in upper body anaerobic power between males and females. Males exhibited higher effective force, peak, and mean power than their female counterparts. These findings align with existing literature on sex differences in muscle mass and hormonal profiles, contributing to upper-body muscle strength and endurance disparities. Additionally, the study revealed that relative load substantially impacted test performance. Participants with higher relative loads experienced a reduction in mean power; however, this did not have the same effect for males and females. Regarding kinematics, we identified different kinematic strategies between males and females to overcome the relative load, with males using greater neck flexion and females using greater elbow and wrist extension. This suggests that the resistance applied when scaled to an individual's body weight might not be the most accurate method to determine the relative load for males and females; this information is essential for standardizing the test across participants of varying sizes and developing precise exercise prescriptions based on relative load. In conclusion, this thesis presents evidence of significant sex differences in upper body anaerobic power and the substantial impact of relative load on the Upper Body Wingate Anaerobic Test. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex-related disparities and relative load adjustments when using this test for assessment and training purposes.