title: Development of a specific anaerobic field test for aerobic gymnastics.
abstract: The current investigation aimed to develop a valid specific field test to evaluate anaerobic physical performance in Aerobic Gymnastics athletes. We first designed the Specific Aerobic Gymnast Anaerobic Test (SAGAT), which included gymnastics-specific elements performed in maximal repeated sprint fashion, with a total duration of 80-90 s. In order to validate the SAGAT, three independent sub-studies were performed to evaluate the concurrent validity (Study I, n=8), the reliability (Study II, n=10) and the sensitivity (Study III, n=30) of the test in elite female athletes. In Study I, a positive correlation was shown between lower-body Wingate test and SAGAT performance (Mean power: p = 0.03, r = -0.69, CI: -0.94 to 0.03 and Peak power: p = 0.02, r = -0.72, CI: -0.95 to -0.04) and between upper-body Wingate test and SAGAT performance (Mean power: p = 0.03, r = -0.67, CI: -0.94 to 0.02 and Peak power: p = 0.03, r = -0.69, CI: -0.94 to 0.03). Additionally, plasma lactate was similarly increased in response to SAGAT (p = 0.002), lower-body Wingate Test (p = 0.021) and a simulated competition (p = 0.007). In Study II, no differences were found between the time to complete the SAGAT in repeated trials (p = 0.84; Cohen's d effect size = 0.09; ICC = 0.97, CI: 0.89 to 0.99; MDC95 = 0.12 s). Finally, in Study III the time to complete the SAGAT was significantly lower during the competition cycle when compared to the period before the preparatory cycle (p < 0.001), showing an improvement in SAGAT performance after a specific Aerobic Gymnastics training period. Taken together, these data have demonstrated that SAGAT is a specific, reliable and sensitive measurement of specific anaerobic performance in elite female Aerobic Gymnastics, presenting great potential to be largely applied in training settings.
authors: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Christiano Robles Rodrigues
authors: CR
authors: Alves
authors: Aerobic Gymnastics Department, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Marcello Tadeu Caetano
authors: MT
authors: Borelli
authors: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Vitor de Salles
authors: Vde S
authors: Paineli
authors: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Rafael de Almeida
authors: Rde A
authors: Azevedo
authors: Aerobic Gymnastics Department, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Claudia Cristine Gomes
authors: CC
authors: Borelli
authors: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Antônio Herbert
authors: AH
authors: Lancha Junior
authors: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Gualano
authors: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Guilherme Giannini
authors: GG
authors: Artioli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*