Purpose: To investigate the effects of a badminton-specific aerobic intermittent power test on the performance and physiological responses of collegiate male badminton singles and doubles players in Taiwan. Methods: Sixteen of Taiwan's top-level collegiate male badminton singles (n=8) and doubles (n=8) players were recruited for the study. All subjects performed the maximal oxygen consumption test on a treadmill, and one day later, began performing the two tests. All subjects performed the 6-ST and 9-ST twice, respectively, using a counter-balanced method. Subjects were given 13 s of rest after completing one lap, and were then instructed to repeat the process over and over until exhaustion. A minimum of 24 hours elapsed between the 6-ST and 9-ST, and between the first and second performance of each test. The total amount of time spent running laps, the number of laps run, and the distance covered during each test were measured for the singles and doubles groups. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during and immediately after each test, respectively. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and blood lactate concentration (LA) were analyzed at 30 s and 3 min after each test, respectively. Data collected during the two performances of the same test were analyzed by Pearson's coefficient correlation, while each group's data during the 6 -ST and 9-ST, respectively, and were analyzed using an independent-sample t-test. Results: 1) Performance: Results showed that the total amount of time spent running, the number of laps and the distance run during the 6-ST for the singles group were all greater (p<.05) than those of the doubles group. No significant difference in these performance parameters was found between the singles and doubles groups when the 9-ST was performed. 2) Physiological parameters: The extent of physiological responses (VO2, HR, LA, RPE) to the 6-ST and 9-ST, respectively, between the singles and doubles groups showed no significant differences (p>.05). For the singles group, the extent of VO2, LA, and RPE responses to the 6-ST was significantly lower than the extent of responses to the 9-ST. For the doubles group, the elevation of VO2 after the 6-ST was lower than (p>.05) that observed after the 9-ST. Concluded: These results suggest that although the singles and doubles groups moved at the same rate of speed and had the same physiological responses to both the 6-ST and the 9-ST, the singles group exhibited superior aerobic power performance and greater exercise efficiency than the doubles group during the field tests. This may be related to the different characteristics of badminton singles versus doubles competition.
Purpose: To investigate the effects of a badminton-specific aerobic intermittent power test on the performance and physiological responses of collegiate male badminton singles and doubles players in Taiwan. Methods: Sixteen of Taiwan's top-level collegiate male badminton singles (n=8) and doubles (n=8) players were recruited for the study. All subjects performed the maximal oxygen consumption test on a treadmill, and one day later, began performing the two tests. All subjects performed the 6-ST and 9-ST twice, respectively, using a counter-balanced method. Subjects were given 13 s of rest after completing one lap, and were then instructed to repeat the process over and over until exhaustion. A minimum of 24 hours elapsed between the 6-ST and 9-ST, and between the first and second performance of each test. The total amount of time spent running laps, the number of laps run, and the distance covered during each test were measured for the singles and doubles groups. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during and immediately after each test, respectively. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and blood lactate concentration (LA) were analyzed at 30 s and 3 min after each test, respectively. Data collected during the two performances of the same test were analyzed by Pearson's coefficient correlation, while each group's data during the 6 -ST and 9-ST, respectively, and were analyzed using an independent-sample t-test. Results: 1) Performance: Results showed that the total amount of time spent running, the number of laps and the distance run during the 6-ST for the singles group were all greater (p<.05) than those of the doubles group. No significant difference in these performance parameters was found between the singles and doubles groups when the 9-ST was performed. 2) Physiological parameters: The extent of physiological responses (VO2, HR, LA, RPE) to the 6-ST and 9-ST, respectively, between the singles and doubles groups showed no significant differences (p>.05). For the singles group, the extent of VO2, LA, and RPE responses to the 6-ST was significantly lower than the extent of responses to the 9-ST. For the doubles group, the elevation of VO2 after the 6-ST was lower than (p>.05) that observed after the 9-ST. Concluded: These results suggest that although the singles and doubles groups moved at the same rate of speed and had the same physiological responses to both the 6-ST and the 9-ST, the singles group exhibited superior aerobic power performance and greater exercise efficiency than the doubles group during the field tests. This may be related to the different characteristics of badminton singles versus doubles competition.