A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Test‐Retest Reliability of Physiological Resilience During and After Prolonged Moderate‐Intensity Running in Well‐Trained Runners
Authors: Malinen, Timi; Nuuttila, Olli‐Pekka; Matomäki, Pekka; Uusitalo, Arja; Kyröläinen, Heikki
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2026
Journal: European Journal of Sport Science
Article number: e70178
Volume: 26
Issue: 5
ISSN: 1746-1391
eISSN: 1536-7290
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70178
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70178
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523303727
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
In previous research, physiological resilience has been measured as deterioration of the physiological profile during prolonged exercise. This study aimed to evaluate the test–retest reliability of physiological resilience during prolonged moderate-intensity running. Physiological profile of 26 well-trained endurance runners (10 females) was tested in nonfatigued state as well as during and after two identical ∼2.5-h long physiological resilience tests at ∼89% of VT1 (ventilatory threshold 1) speed within an average period of 13 days. Reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficient of variations (CV%), and typical errors (TE and TE%). Change in maximal speed achieved in the incremental test (sPeak) was the most reliable metric and showed good reliability (ICC: 0.81 and TE: 1.8). The drifts in running economy (RE) and the heart rate (HR) had moderate to good reliability in the second half of the trial (ICC: 0.52–0.80 and TE 1.7–2.4). The changes in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and ventilatory thresholds (VTs) had poor reliability (ICC: 0.07–0.36 and TE: 3.5–4.6). However, the absolute values of these variables demonstrated good to excellent reliability in fatigued state (ICC > 0.83, TE% < 5.2%, and CV% < 4.1%) even though they significantly deteriorated. Determining changes in sPeak and drifts in RE and HR appears to be the most reliable method to measure physiological resilience. In contrast, measurement of the physiological profile remains reliable in fatigued state for every variable. Longer or more demanding protocols may be required to obtain greater reliability for deterioration of the physiological profile.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |
Funding information in the publication:
The study received a grant from Finnish Sports Research Foundation (Suomen urheilututkimussäätiö).