THE CONCONI TEST ON A BICYCLE ERGOMETER

In Italy (Conconi), Switzerland (Probst), as well as in The Netherlands (v.d.Bosch, Sligchers) the Conconi Test is increasingly being used for determining the anaerobic threshold. According to Conconi the anaerobic threshold is found at that level of work at which the heart frequency is no longer increasing linearly proportional to the work. These test leaders have found a good correlation with the 4-mmmol-threshold. Several test leaders have been trying to perform the Conconi Test on a bicycle ergometer. Only few of them were able to visualise an inflection point (kink) in the heart-frequency curve (see Table 1).

Author	n	Intensity (power) profile
		Start (Watts)	Increment (Watts)	Duration (sec)	n of Kinks
Ribeiro Urhausen Gaisl	16 12 72	25 50 0	26 10 10	60 60 60	8 1 8

Table 1.

These three groups were all using a constant duration of each intensity step.

During a Conconi Test on a 400m athletics track the athlete runs at constant speed for 200m after which he increases the speed by a step of 0.5 km/hr for the next 200m. Here, the duration of each power level is not constant, but decreases.

According to Di Prampero (3) the running power P is dependent of the body weight and proportional to the speed (V), such that it can be calculated by the formula P = C * V, where C is the energy consumption per distance of running. The work (=energy) per body weight, that the athlete performs per level of intensity will then be W = P * t = C * v * LAP. Here, LAP is time per 200m. If s = v * LAP equals the interval distance of 200m, then W = C * s, which is constant per intensity level!

If one would like to perform the Conconi Test correctly on a bicycle ergometer, then one should take care of keeping constant the work per intensity level, rather than its duration.

The following considerations will be used for choosing the intensity profile (protocol). The initial power level should be large enough to guarantee a heart rate (HR) of at least 120 BPM (beats per minute), within the linear range of the HR-power relation. The first level of intensity should last long enough for the heart to reach a “steady state”.

Material and methods

For performing the test, one needs a bicycle ergometer on which one may adjust the level of resistance (load) in Watts, as well as a heart rate monitor (HRM) for recording the heart rate. As a warming-up the tested person is riding for 10-15 min. using a load of 100 W. At the end of this phase the athlete starts the test at the initial power level of 100 W. In order to adapt the test to cyclists the pedalling speed is set to 90-100 RPM.

An HRM (PE3000 or POLAR sport tester) monitors the HR and records them in its memory. At the first level the athlete is working during 120 sec, equal to an energy of 120 x 100 Ws = 12 kJ. Subsequently, the power level is increased by 20 W to 120 W, and the duration is decreased from 120 to100 sec. to keep the energy constant.

At the end of the test, when the required power level can no longer be achieved, data may be processed and plotted in a graph (see Figure 1).

Figure 1

The moment of increasing the power level is denoted in a protocol table

(see Table 2).

Name : Bike settings: Age : Height of handlebars: length : Date : Height of saddle : length :
CUM. (minutes)	LAP (seconds)	POWER (Watts)	HR (BPM)
2.00	120	100
3.40	100	120
5.06	86	140
6.21	75	160
7.27	67	180
8.27	60	200
9.22	54	220
10.12	50	240
10.58	46	260
11.41	43	280
12.21	40	300
12.58	37	320
13.34	35	340
14.07	33	360
14.38	32	380
15.08	30	400
15.37	29	420
16.04	27	440
16.30	26	460
16.55	25	480

Table 2

CONCONI TEST

Date : 13-02-1991

Name : Kuepers Huub

Age : 43

Sex : Male

Location of test : WEERT Nederhoven

Type of load : Bicycle ergometer

ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD

Power : 300 Watts

Heart rate : 172 BPM

TRAINING MAGNITUDE..............Bicycle ergometer (aerobic)

Intensity in % of power at anaerobic threshold

Type of training % Watts BPM Duration Number

..................... 70% 210 145 .... ...

..................... 75% 225 149 .... ...

..................... 80% 240 154 .... ...

..................... 85% 255 159 .... ...

..................... 90% 270 163 .... ...

..................... 93% 279 166 .... ...

..................... 95% 285 168 .... ...

..................... 97% 291 169 .... ...

r = 1.000 P = 81.5 + 3.0E-01 * W

If, however, one possesses a computer and HRCT (Heart Rate Controlled Training) software by Transware AG Reinach, the data stored in the Sport Tester may be transferred directly to the computer for post-processing (see Figure 2). This software is also capable of controlling the moments of power-level increments during the test.

Figure 2

Conclusion

In contrast to the opinion in former days, one may have gained the insight by now that bicycle ergometers may be highly suited for determining the anaerobic threshold by the Conconi Test, provided it is properly executed.

From the above-mentioned, it appears that determining the anaerobic threshold is of importance not only for diagnosing the HR-power curve of top athletes, but also during the daily practice of medical staff and physiotherapists, ranging from revalidation of heart-disease patients to advising recreational sportsmen.

Jan van den Bosch

The Netherlands

Phone : +31 (0) 495 534504

E-mail : J.H.vd.Bosch@net.HCC.nl