Best Performance Assessments for Endurance Athletes


Three performance tests that I believe are essential for my current client, who is an endurance athlete, include; cardiovascular endurance, lower body strength and the body composition assessments. According to a study by Schuman (2017), that compared the effects of individualized endurance training with the effects of standardized endurance training, an athlete’s endurance level influences the magnitude of endurance training-induced physiological adaptation. This proves the importance of assessing an endurance athlete for cardiovascular endurance prior to starting a performance enhancement training program. According to another research by Doma (2015), that studied the effects of lower body strength training on the performance of endurance athletes, lower body strength training reduces the possibility of muscle damage and increases power output of the athlete. These finding prove that administering lower body strength assessment prior to training is important in order to find a starting point for the athlete and track progress throughout the program. Finally, a study by Mooses and Hackney (2017) found that body composition has an important role in a runners performance. The study also proves that low body mass has a positive effect on VO2 Max (Moose and Hackney 2017).

            In conclusion, endurance athletes benefit most from cardiovascular endurance, lower body strength and body composition assessments. This is because cardiovascular, body composition and lower body strength all play a vital role in the athlete’s power output, running endurance, speed and overall performance.

Reference:

Schumann, M., Botella, J., Karavirta, L., & Häkkinen, K. (2017). Training-Load-Guided vs Standardized Endurance Training in Recreational Runners. International Journal Of Sports Physiology & Performance, 12(3), 295-303. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2016-0093

Doma, K., Schumann, M., Sinclair, W. H., Leicht, A. S., Deakin, G. B., & Häkkinen, K. (2015). The repeated bout effect of typical lower body strength training sessions on sub-maximal running performance and hormonal response. European Journal Of Applied Physiology, 115(8), 1789-1799. doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3159-z

Mooses, M., & Hackney, A. C. (2017). Anthropometries and Body Composition in East African Runners: Potential Impact on Performance. International Journal Of Sports Physiology & Performance, 12(4), 422-430.





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