ABSTRACT
Cycle ergometer tests, to measure short-term muscle power, have been used since the turn of the century[1, 2] Since these early studies and despite the methodological problems of measuring short-term power, many protocols and tests have been devised. Studies into muscle power using stationary ergometers, have been divided into two groups. Those researchers who use a fixed braking force and those investigators who propose the use of a series of very short tests at different braking forces. Both tests are affected by such factors as not knowing the optimal braking force or the optimal cadence, and problems of deceleration and acceleration of the flywheel.
