Key Metrics of WKO+ Presented at ACSM
21 June 2007Key metrics in WKO+ subject of scientific research presented at American College of Sports Medicine meeting
Normalized Power TM, Training Stress Score (TSS) TM, and the Performance Manager were the topic of three abstracts recently presented at the 54th annual American College of Sports Medicine meeting held in New Orleans, LA, on May 30-June 2.
In the first study, Dr. Phil Skiba of Union Hospital (Union, NJ) tested the validity and accuracy of the normalized power algorithm, by comparing the normalized power of five trained cyclists during a ~1 hour criterium to the average power that they could maintain during a ~1 hour time trial (TT). Skiba found a very high correlation (R2 = 0.97) between the two sets of numbers, with normalized power during the criterium on average being 1% lower than average power during the criterium. In contrast, average power during the criterium was significantly less than, and also less well correlated with (R2 = 0.79), average power during the TT.
In the same study, Skiba also examined TSS as a means of quantifying training load, by using it to try to predict changes in the sprint performance (maximal 5 second power) of an elite female track cyclist. Using TSS, along with the modeling approach upon which the Performance Manager is based, he found that on average he could predict day-to-day changes in her power over the course of a season to within +/- 5 watts, or to within <1%.
In two other studies, Dr. Steve McGregor and his colleagues at Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI) tested whether a variation of TSS for running could be used along with the Performance Manager approach to predict performance in either four high school cross-country runners or in a finalist in the 1500 meter at the 2000 Olympic Games. In the high school runners, performance in a 1200 meter TT performed biweekly throughout a four month season was found to be significantly correlated (R = 0.58-0.77) to training stress balance (TSB) in each of the four athletes. Likewise, the performance of the Olympic 1500 m runner expressed relative to the world record was significantly correlated with their TSB during both 2000 and 2001 (R = 0.73 and 0.75, respectively), but was not correlated with their training volume, i.e., the mileage that they ran. McGregor and his colleagues also found that, at least for this individual, running performance was best predicted when acute training load (ATL) was calculated using a time constant of 14 days, vs. 3 or 7 days.
About Peaksware, LLC
Peaksware develops software systems to help motivated individuals and professionals achieve health, fitness and peak performance. Products include TrainingPeaks.com, WKO+, NutriPeaks.com. Training Stress Score (TSS)/Intensity Factor (IF) and Normalized Power (NP) are trademarked terms of Peaksware, LLC.
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