Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of the power output profile obtained from a 90 s all-out isokinetic cycling test.
Methods: Within a 10 day period, 16 participants (-x+/-s: age 30.1+/-6.4 years; body mass 69.2+/-10.6 kg) performed an incremental VO2 max ramp test and two 90 s all-out efforts on an isokinetic cycle ergometer. Peak power (PP), mean power (MP), end power (EP) and fatigue index (FI) were determined.
Results: There were no significant differences between tests for MP, EP and FI values (P > 0.05) but PP was higher on the second test (P = 0.003). Ratio limits of agreement suggested that a repeated measurement might be expected in 95% of cases to be between 0.92 to 1.21 times the initial PP measurement and 0.97 to 1.07 times the initial MP measurement. The 95% limits of agreement for EP and fatigue were -23 to +33 W (1.8+/-9.7% of the mean) and -6.5% to 8.8% (2+/-7.6% of the mean), respectively.
Conclusions: The 90 s all-out test appears to be a reliable test for given aspects of the physiological profile, with the exception of PP.