Critical velocity and anaerobic distance capacity in prepubertal children

This study was designed to calculate the critical velocity (nu(crit)) and anaerobic distance capacity (ADC) of prepubescent children for running events. Thirty-four prepubertal children underwent a graded field test to exhaustion in order to determine peak oxygen uptake (peak (V) over dot O-2) and maximal aerobic velocity (MAV). Then, in random order, they performed five runs to exhaustion (tlim) at relative velocities corresponding to 90, 95, 100, 105, and 110% of MAV The linear relationships between distance limit (dlim) and tlim were calculated in order to determine nu(crit) (slope of the relationship) and ADC (intercept). Very high individual coefficients of determination were found between dlim and tlim (0.98 < r(2) < 0.99; p < 0.001). The nu(crit) was significantly correlated with peak (V) over dot O-2 (r = 0. 3; p < 0.001). However no relationship was found between ADC and the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit. In conclusion, our results indicated that, for children, the relationship between dlim and tlim could be calculated with tlim ranging from 2 to 10 min, and that nu(crit) is a good indicator of the aerobic fitness of children. Nevertheless, further studies will have to be conducted to validate the use of ADC as an indicator of children's anaerobic capacity.