Anaerobic performance capacity in athletes.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional comparative physiological study
PubMed 899821 · doi:10.1111/j.1748-1716.1977.tb05926.x
What was done
A cross-sectional study evaluated 89 athletes across different sport disciplines and 31 reference subjects. Whole-body performance measures included vertical velocity during stair running, maximal isometric force of leg extensor muscles, and blood lactate concentration following a maximal treadmill running test. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were analyzed for percentage of fast-twitch (% FT) fibers and activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or statistical significance levels. Qualitatively, performance and muscle tissue characteristics tended to categorize athletes and their events into neuromuscular, anaerobic, and aerobic types. Whole-body anaerobic performance metrics (vertical velocity, leg force, blood lactate) were reported to relate to % FT fibers. Running velocity appeared to be more influenced by LDH and CPK activity than muscle strength was.
Why it matters
The paper demonstrates physiological and biochemical correlates of anaerobic athletic performance, linking muscle fiber type and metabolic enzyme activity to whole-body power output.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative data, correlation coefficients, or variance metrics. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or separate innate genetic predispositions from training-induced adaptations. Subgroup sample sizes per sport were not reported.
Cited by
- supports Individuals with a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers have a greater enzymatic capacity to generate high blood lactate levels.