Eur J Appl Physiol (1994) 69:435-438 European oum.,o, App l ied Phys io logy and Occupational Physiology © Springer-Verlag 1994 Critical power test for ramp exercise

Abstract. The critical power test for cycle ergometry has been criticised as providing an overestimate of the real value of the critical power. Part of the blame may rest in the practical problem associated with getting re-liable measurements of longer endurance times when power settings are not much above the critical power. However, by adjusting the incremental slope of ramp exercises, exhaustion brought about by high power and in a reasonably short time can be ensured, so avoiding this practical problem. This communication presents the theory and methods required to obtain estimates of both anaerobic work capacity and critical power from several ramp tests conducted to exhaustion. The meth-od is illustrated with published laboratory data col-lected from exercising subjects