Alternative forms of the critical power test for ramp exercise.

The critical power test provides estimates of two important parameters characterizing work performance; anaerobic work capacity (AWC) and critical power (CP). The CP concept has recently been adapted to a test procedure involving ramp exercise. Just as the constant power format of the CP test can be expressed in several mathematically equivalent forms, so too can the ramp format. This communication illustrates these forms and tests the various AWC and CP estimates so obtained. It is found that three of the four forms provide equivalent estimates for both AWC and CP. It is concluded that provided either endurance time or total work performed is taken as the dependent variable, researchers can expect consistent estimates for both AWC and CP.