title: Comparison of sport-specific and non-specific exercise testing in inline speed skating.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most effective way to measure exercise performance in inline speed skating (ISS) has yet to be established. Generally most athletes are examined by means of traditional but unspecific cycling (CYC) or running (RUN) testing. The present study investigates whether a sport-specific incremental test in ISS reveals different results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight male top level inline speed skaters (age: 30±4 years; 65.4±6.3 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, training: 12-14 h/week) performed three incremental exhaustive tests in a randomized order (ergometer CYC, field RUN, field ISS). During the tests, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (V̇O2, energy expenditure (EE) and blood lactate concentration (BLC) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of variance revealed no significant differences for peak HR (187±9, 191±9, 190±9; P=0.75), BLC (10.9±2.3, 10.8±2.4, 8.5±3.2; P=0.25), V̇O2 (65.4±6.3, 66.8±3.5, 66.4±6.5; P=0.91) and EE (1371±165, 1335±93, 1439±196; P=0.51) between ISS and CYC or RUN test. Similar results appeared for HR and V̇O2 at submaximal intensities (2 and 4 mmol·L-1 BLC; P≥0.05). Small to moderate effect sizes 0.3-0.87 and considerable variability of differences between the exercise modes (mean bias range between 1% and 17% with 95% limits of agreement between 3% and 33%) among submaximal and maximal results limit the comparability of the three tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consequently, CYC and RUN tests may be considered as qualified alternatives for a challenging ISS test. However a sport-specific test should be conducted in cases of doubt, or when precision is required (e.g. for elite athletes or scientific studies).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany - c.stangier@dshs-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stangier
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mierau
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutmann
authors.forename: Wildor
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hollmann
authors.forename: Heiko K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Struder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology*