Physical fitness components associated with performance in a multiple-sprint test.
OBJECTIVE
The 5-m repeat-sprint test (5-m RST) measures resistance to fatigue after repeated bouts of short-duration, high-intensity activity. This study determined the components of fitness associated with performance in 5-m RSTs.


METHODS
Speed (10-m and 40-m sprints), strength (bench press), agility, strength endurance (pull-ups and push-ups), and aerobic power (20-m shuttle-run test) were measured in male provincial- or national-level rugby (n = 110), hockey (n = 59), and soccer (n = 55) players.


RESULTS
Subjects with either high (HI) or low (LO) resistance to fatigue in the 5-m RST differed in body mass (76.9 +/- 11.6 kg vs 102.1 +/- 18.9 kg, HI vs LO, respectively, P < .001), agility (14.55 +/- 0.41 seconds vs 15.56 +/- 0.30 seconds, P < .001), bench press (86 +/- 20 kg vs 114 +/- 33 kg, P = .03), pull-ups (13 +/- 4 vs 8 +/- 5, P = .02), push-ups (56 +/- 12 vs 39 +/- 13, P = .002), and 20-m shuttle-run test (20-m SRT; 133 +/- 11 vs 87 +/- 12 shuttles, P < .001). Body mass, strength, and aerobic power were the best predictors of 5-m RST performance: 5-m RST = -1.274(mass) + 0.756(1RM bench press) + 2.053(number of 20-m SRT shuttles) + 549.409 (R2 = .66).


CONCLUSIONS
Performance in the 5-m RST is predicted best by a combination of factors including body mass, strength, and aerobic ability, rather than by any single component of fitness.
Durandt
Justin
J
Discovery Health High Performance Centre, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa.
Tee
Jason C
JC
Prim
Sebastian K
SK
Lambert
Michael I
MI
D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology; D006688:Hockey / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*