Familiarization, reliability, and comparability of a 40-m maximal shuttle run test

The aims of this study were to examine familiarization andreliability associated with a 40-m maximal shuttle run test (40-mmst), and to compare performance measures from the test withthose of a typical unidirectional multiple sprint running test(umsrt). 12 men and 4 women completed four trials of the 40-m mst (8 × 40-m; 20 s rest periods) followed by one trial of aumsrt (12 × 30-m; repeated every 35 s); with seven daysbetween trials. all trials were conducted indoors and performancetimes were recorded via twin-beam photocells. significantbetween-trial differences in mean 40-m mst times were indicativeof learning effects between trials 1 and 2. test-retest reliabilityacross the remaining trials as determined by coefficientof variation (cv) and intraclass correlation coefficient (icc)revealed: a) very good reliability for measures of fastest andmean shuttle time (cv = 1.1 – 1.3%; icc = 0.91 – 0.92); b)good reliability for measures of blood lactate (cv = 10.1 –23.9%; icc = 0.74 – 0.82) and ratings of perceived exertion(cv = 5.3 – 7.6%; icc = 0.79 – 0.84); and c) poor reliability formeasures of fatigue (cv = 38.7%; icc = 0.59). comparisonsbetween performance indices of the 40-m mst and the umsrtrevealed significant correlations between all measures, exceptpre-test blood lactate concentration (r = 0.47). whilst the 40-mmst does not appear to provide more information than can begleaned from a typical umsrt, following the completion of afamiliarization trial, the 40-m mst provides an alternative and,except for fatigue measures, reliable means of evaluating repeatedsprint ability.