Effect of a Flying Versus Stationary Start on Wingate Test Outcomes Using an Electromagnetically-Braked Cycle Ergometer in Advanced Resistance-Trained Males.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized crossover trial
PubMed 30338018 · doi:10.70252/YYIC2866
What was done
Twenty advanced resistance-trained men (age 24.6 ± 4.5 years; BMI 25.4 ± 2.5 kg/m²) performed Wingate anaerobic tests on an electromagnetically-braked cycle ergometer in a counter-balanced, repeated-measures design. Participants were randomly assigned to complete either a flying start or a stationary start first. Researchers evaluated peak power, mean power, total work, peak cadence, mean cadence, and time to reach peak power using paired t-tests.
What was found
The flying start produced significantly higher peak power (1,111 ± 42 W vs. 854 ± 41 W, p<0.01) and peak cadence (167 ± 7 RPM vs. 128 ± 5 RPM, p<0.01) compared to the stationary start. Time to reach peak power occurred almost immediately with the flying start (0.24 ± 0.02 seconds) versus delayed attainment in the stationary start (10.3 ± 0.4 seconds). No significant differences were observed for mean power (flying 673 ± 30 W vs. stationary 657 ± 34 W, p=0.73) or mean cadence (flying 102 ± 5 RPM vs. stationary 99 ± 4 RPM, p=0.61). Numerical values for total work were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
The choice of starting technique alters peak power output and timing during electromagnetic cycle ergometry, demonstrating that flying and stationary Wingate protocols cannot be compared interchangeably when assessing anaerobic performance.
Limits
The study is limited by a small sample size (n = 20) confined entirely to young, resistance-trained men. The abstract does not specify the recovery interval between test sessions or provide numerical results for total work. Results cannot be directly generalized to mechanically braked ergometers, female athletes, or endurance-trained populations.
Cited by
- supports Peak power outputs during a Wingate anaerobic test typically occur within the first 5 to 10 seconds of the effort.