Assessing Accuracy of Measurements for a Wingate Test Using the Taguchi Method

The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of four variables on the results obtained for a Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). This study used a 30 second WAnT and compared data collection and analysed in different ways in order to form conclusions as to relative importance of the variables on the results. Data was collected simultaneously by a commercially available software correction system manufactured by Cranlea Ltd., (Birmingham, England) system and an alternative method of data collection which involves direct measurement of the flywheel velocity and the brake force. Data was compared using a design of experiments technique, the Taguchi method. Four variables were examined - flywheel speed, braking force, moment of inertia of the flywheel and time intervals over which the work and power were calculated. The choice of time interval was identified as the most influential variable on the results. While other factors have an influence on the results, the decreased time interval over which the data is averaged gave 9.8% increase in work done, 40.75% increase in peak power and 13.1% increase in mean power.