Durability — how to measure it: the fatiguing protocol shapes the result (higher relative intensity and longer duration deteriorate baseline measures more), and nutrition and environment must be controlled for a durability number to be repeatable or comparable
Physiological profiling is usually done fresh, but profiling variables deteriorate during prolonged exercise. The review defines durability as resilience to that deterioration during or after prolonged exercise and reviews how it is measured.
Participants
Not applicable (review).
Protocol
Review of current approaches to measuring durability.
Key Results
The construction of the fatiguing protocol affects durability profiles: greater relative intensity and duration produce more marked deterioration of baseline measures.
Durability assessments should control nutrition and environmental characteristics so outcomes are repeatable and comparable between athletes or over time in one athlete.
Protocol parameters should follow the research question or applied context and the athlete's training status.
Practical Application
A durability number only means something against the same preload, the same fuelling and similar conditions: compare an athlete with themselves on matched protocols, never across different ones.
The review gives no training prescription for building durability.
Limitations
Methods review; no new data, no training recommendation in the abstract.
How this entry was checked and changed
Why this level
narrative review of measurement approaches; no pooled data in the abstract