Abstract
Performance indices during the Wingate 30-s anaerobic test and their relationship
to muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis muscle were studied in 30 untrained male
and lemale subjects. Absolute values for peak power (P05), total work performed (TW),
power decrease (PD), and post-test blood lactate concentration were significantly
greater for the male subjects. When expressed per unit of body mass or leg volume,
both P05 and TW were larger for the males than the females (P < 0.05). Significant
correlations were noted for P05, TW, PD, and blood lactate and the percent of fast-twitch
(FT) fibers and the percent relative area of FT fibers for the male but not the female
subjects. The results from this experiment reveal a significant influence of muscle
morphology on short-term anaerobic work performance for these male subjects. The absence
of a similar relationship for the women subjects was likely due to the use of an inappropriately
high resistance setting.
Key words
Wingate test - power - power decrease - muscle fiber type
