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The aims of this study were to use the Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) to set training intensities for aerobic training and to measure the effects of two different training programmes on MAS and on the running time to exhaustion at 100% of MAS (Tlim) for 121 students aged 14 to 17 years. The MAS was measured using the Universite de Montreal Track Test (UMTT). This measurement was found reproducible for males (r=0.93) and females (r=0.68). The Students followed a 12-week training programme of one weekly training session. The MAS and the Tlim were measured the weeks before and after training. Two training programmes were proposed (intense training programme and moderate training programme). These training programmes differed by the ratio between continuous exercises (85% of MAS) and intermittent exercises (between 90% and 120% of MAS). For the moderate training programme, the ratio between continuous and intermittent exercises was greater than for the intensive training programme. Twenty subjects served as control group. The students MAS and Tlim (mean+SD) were respectively 13.7+/-1.6 kmx h-1 and 380.5+/-91.8 s for the males and 11.3+/-1.2 km x h-1 and 347.2+/-91.1 s for the females. Our results indicated that only the subjects of the intense training group improved their MAS:+5.7% for the males (p<0.001) and +5.4% for the females (p<0.001). In neither case was Tlim significantly improved with training. In conclusion, we can notice that MAS is a pertinent criterion to set training intensities for aerobic training and that a weekly training session over 12 weeks is sufficient to moderately improve the MAS of initially untrained students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relations among kinematic parameters measured during the first 10 seconds of 100-m sprint and anaerobic tests were studied in 22 male physical education students. During the first 10 seconds of the sprint, the position of the runners was "continuously" measured with a laser telemeter. Maximal acceleration (Amax), maximal velocity (Vmax), and time to reach Vmax (tVmax) were derived from position data. In addition, the subjects performed anaerobic tests: squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and force-velocity test to measure maximal power, maximal theoretical cranking velocity (VO), maximal theoretical isometric force, and the Wingate anaerobic test (30 seconds). The mean 100-m run time of the subjects was 12.6 +/- 0.9 seconds. The highest correlations were calculated between Amax and V0 (r = 0.55, p < 0.01) and CMJ (r = 0.48, p < 0.05) and Vmax and SJ (r = 0.63, p < 0.01) and CMJ (r = 0.56, p < 0.05). The tVmax was uncorrelated to other tests. Because the CMJ was the anaerobic performance best correlated to the different kinematic parameters of the run, our results fail to identify one anaerobic test that specifically explains one sprint kinematic parameter.

The purpose of the present study was to submit disabled swimmers to two maximal swimming tests, and by comparing the physiological and performance responses of disabled and normal swimmers to determine if these adapted tests can be used to design training programmes for this particular class of swimmer. Two groups of disabled (n = 8 and 6) and two groups of normal competitive swimmers (n = 9 and 13) were respectively submitted to a functional maximal aerobic power test (FMAPT) and a maximal anaerobic lactic test (MANLT). For the disabled, the FMAPT included a slower initial speed and a slower increase in swimming speeds. In the maximal aerobic test, exercise duration, peak heart rate, and the maximal speed relative to the respective best time of a 100-m race [55.5 (SD 3.9) compared to 56.5 (SD 2.8)%] were not significantly different between the disabled and normal swimmers. Peak lactate concentration was, however, higher in the disabled swimmers [10.8 (SD 3.5) compared to 6.8 (SD 1.6)mmol.l-1]. In the MNALT, peak lactate concentration [14.3 (SD 4) compared to 16.8 (SD 1.9)mmol.l-1], and the maximal speed relative to the respective best time in a 100-m race [99.1 (SD 3.2) compared to 98.3 (SD 2.5)%] were not significantly different between the disabled and normal swimmers. These results would seem to indicate that functional maximal aerobic and anaerobic field tests could be used to evaluate and design training programmes for disabled competitive swimmers.