Performance indices of two different repeated sprint tests protocols in overweight children

Abstract

We determined the relationship between aerobic fitness and a short and long repeated sprint test (RST) in pre pubertal overweight children (10.5±1.5 yrs). Aerobic fitness was evaluated by the 20m shuttle run. Two RST protocols with identical total running distance were performed to determine anaerobic capacities at random order (12×20 m run departing every 20s and 6×40m run departing every 40s). Performance decrement (PD) and total sprint time (TS) were significantly higher in the 12×20 m compared to the 6×40 m protocol. Significant negative correlations were found between the aerobic fitness and TS (r= –0.767) and the fastest sprint time (r= –0.738) of the 12×20 m protocol. Similarly, significant negative correlations were found between the aerobic fitness and TS (r= –0.803) and the fastest sprint time (r= –0.787) of the 6×40 m protocol. There were no significant correlations between PD in both RST's and aerobic fitness. Performance of high number of short repetitions with very short recovery time is more difficult for overweight children than fewer longer repetitions with longer recovery time. Aerobic fitness plays an important role in intense intermittent activity, but not in PD from intermittent activity in obese children.