On-field prediction vs monitoring of aerobic capacity markers using submaximal lactate and heart rate measures.
This study aimed to validate the use of a single blood lactate concentration measurement taken following a 5-minute running bout at 10 km·h-1(BLC10) and the speed associated with 90% of maximal heart rate (S90) to predict and monitor fixed blood lactate concentration (FBLC) thresholds in athletes. Three complementary studies were undertaken. Study I: A cross-sectional study examining the associations of BLC10and S90with running speeds at FBLC of 3 (S3mM) and 4 mmol·L-1(S4mM) in 100 athletes. Study II: A cross-validation study assessing the predictive capacity of BLC10and S90to estimate FBLC thresholds in real practice. Study III: A longitudinal study examining whether training-induced changes in FBLC thresholds could be monitored using BLC10and S90in 80 athletes tested before and after an intensified training period. Study I: BLC10(r=-.87 to -.89) and S90(r=.73-.79) were very largely (P<.001) related to FBLC thresholds. Study II: Predictive models yielded robust correlations between estimated and measured FBLC thresholds (r=.75-.91; P<.001). The limits of agreements, however, revealed that prediction of FBLC thresholds could be biased up to 9%-15%. Study III: BLC10was very largely related to training-induced changes in FBLC thresholds (r=-.72 to -.76; P<.001). Increases in S90were associated with improvements in FBLC thresholds, but decreases in S90led to unclear changes in FBLC thresholds. This study supports the use of BLC10as a simple, low-cost, non-fatiguing, and time-efficient functional variable to monitor, but not predict, FBLC thresholds in athletes. The present results also question the use of S90to detect declines in endurance performance.
Studies, Research and Sports Medicine Center, Government of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.|Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.
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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8553-8154
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Garcia-Tabar
Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.
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M
Izquierdo
Studies, Research and Sports Medicine Center, Government of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.
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EM
Gorostiaga
D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D056352:Athletes; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D019344:Lactic Acid

OBLA
; anaerobic threshold; elite athletes; endurance training; fitness monitoring; submaximal testing