The effect of loading pattern in the exhaustive protocols on anaerobic threshold of sedentary young girls

The anaerobic threshold was initially defined as a work intensity or level of oxygen consumption (VO2) preceding the onset of metabolic acidosis and the associated changes ingas exchange that take place.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of workload pattern in the exhausting protocols on anaerobic threshold in sedentary young girls.

Fifteen sedentary girls with the mean and standard deviation of age (20.42±1.12 years), height (161.64±5.8 cm), weight (54.92±5.48 kg) and VO2max(26.23±3.43 ml/kg/min) participated in our study. Anaerobic threshold computed by respiratory compensation point at two different exhausting protocols. The first protocol was initiated withthe %10 slope and 2.5 km/h speed. The slope and speed were increased by %2 and 1km/h every minute up to exhaustion, respectively; While during the second protocol, subjects warmedupfor 10 -15 minutes, testing protocol initiated with %75 of MHR of the subjects, and the treadmill speed increased by 2 km/h every minute up to exhaustion. The ventilatory threshold and gasexchange responses were collected by gas analyzer system. Data were analyzed by the two statistical models. Graphical Bland-Altman as well as the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) methods was used to assessment of the possible agreement. Paired samples T Test was used to comparing the predicted AT in the two protocol.

Although changes of the exhausting protocol types did not results in significant difference between two predicted AT by the means of the Paired Samples T Test, the Bland-Altman and the ICC methods revealed medium agreement between the two protocols (ICC=0.4399; ±1.96, 95% CI=-21.8 to +20.2).Discussion and

According to the doubtful agreement between two predicted AT in the two protocols, increasing of the exhaustive protocol duration affects the predicted AT which is not detectable by the means of the Paired Samples T Test. Therefore, application of the long durationprotocol not only is doubtful, but also, it is strongly recommended to use the optimal statistical methods.