Calculation of anaerobic capacity

Anaerobic capacity values can be determined without laboratories and diagnostic devices. Vertical jump height test is used to determine and measure explosive strength and power. This method details about converting jump height to power or work scores. Sayers’ and co-workers’ (1999) formula estimated peak power output from the vertical jump. They assessed the power using a regression equation developed from a population of students.

PAPW=(60,7 x VJ_cm) + (45,3 x BW_kg) - 2055

PAP_W : peak anaerobic power

VJ_cm : vertical jump height in centimetres

BW_kg : body weight/ kg

Measuring protocol

1. Vertical jump height measuring device registers an individual’s maximum tangent height at rest. He/she stands side raising his/her hand up to the highest point and keep both feet remaining on the ground. Then the athlete from a static position jumps vertically with a 90 degree knee flexion as high as possible. (It is recommended to repeat the test for 3 times)

2. From the maximum contact height the maximum contact height at rest should be deducted.
3. The subject’s body weight is measured
4. Then these data are put into the formula

This absolute result/outcome expressed as a percentage of body weight will show the relative maximum anaerobic power (W/ kg).

The non-invasive method of determining anaerobic threshold is the Conconi test. It measures an individual’s heart rates at different loads. The data are registered by a computer. There is a linear relationship between the intensity of power and the increase of heart rates both in aerobic and anaerobic phases (Palvik 2013). Heart rate increases linearly up to the deflection point and over a certain point heart rate will not increase significantly, the curve will be ‘flat’ and this is called anaerobic threshold.