title: Validity of Lactate Thresholds in Inline Speed Skating.
abstract: Lactate thresholds are commonly used as estimates of the highest workload where lactate production and elimination are in equilibrium (maximum lactate steady state [MLSS]). However, because of the high static load on propulsive muscles, lactate kinetics in inline speed skating may differ significantly from other endurance exercise modes. Therefore, the discipline-specific validity of lactate thresholds has to be verified. Sixteen competitive inline-speed skaters (age: 30 ± 10 years; training per week: 10 ± 4 hours) completed an exhaustive stepwise incremental exercise test (start 24 km·h, step duration 3 minutes, increment 2 km·h) to determine individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) and the workload corresponding to a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol·L (LT4) and 2-5 continuous load tests of (up to) 30 minutes to determine MLSS. The IAT and LT4 correlated significantly with MLSS, and the mean differences were almost negligible (MLSS 29.5 ± 2.5 km·h; IAT 29.2 ± 2.0 km·h; LT4 29.6 ± 2.3 km·h; p > 0.1 for all differences). However, the variability of differences was considerable resulting in 95% limits of agreement in the upper range of values known from other endurance disciplines (2.6 km·h [8.8%] for IAT and 3.1 km·h [10.3%] for LT4). Consequently, IAT and LT4 may be considered as valid estimates of the MLSS in inline speed skating, but verification by means of a constant load test should be considered in cases of doubt or when optimal accuracy is needed (e.g., in elite athletes or scientific studies).
authors: 1Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany; and 2Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Hecksteden
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Heinze
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Faude
authors: Wilfried
authors: W
authors: Kindermann
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019344:Lactic Acid