Blood pH and Lactate Kinetics in the Assessment of Running Endurance

Abstract

To study how two types of testing protocols for the determination of the [LA] and blood pH kinetics during running match each other, a group of nine runners participated in two testing protocols. The first protocol consisted of a sequences of 8 x 2000 m runs at constant speed, which was increased on different testing days. The first protocol was used for the determination of running speed (v), [LA], pH and heart rate (HR) corresponding to the Lactate Threshold (LT) and the Threshold of Acidosis (TA), both occurring at similar running speeds (4.21 +/- 0.44 and 4.22 +/- 0.40 m/s) (mean +/- SD) and HR (159 +/- 7 and 160 +/- 9 1/min), [LA] = 2.0 +/- 0.6 mmol/l and pH = 7.411 +/- 0.018. Maximal steady values for [LA] (maxLAss) and minimal steady values for pH (minpHss) obtained by the second protocol were higher (p < 0.01) according to running speed (4.62 +/- 0.38 and 4.66 +/- 0.38 m/s), HR (172 +/- 7 and 174 +/- 8 1/min) and [LA] (5.7 +/- 1.3 mmol/l) and lower according to pH (7.364 +/- 0.021), respectively. Unlike similar running speeds determined by LT and TA, the minimal steady pH level occurred at a slightly higher speed than the speed at maxLAss. Additionally, we found a drift of pH towards a resting level, when [LA] fluctuated around a steady level. Furthermore, the parameters of pH kinetics correlated better with the running speed of the 4000 m run that was taken as the parameter of short endurance performance, than those of [LA] kinetics. We conclude that these differences in [LA] and pH kinetics could serve to predict the capabilities of runners with respect to the two endurance performance types: long and short.

Comparison of the Field-Based Intermittent Running Fitness Test 30-15 and the Treadmill Multistage Incremental Test for the Assessment of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Elite Handball Players

“…The data were recorded in 5 s intervals and automatically analyzed using the original Polar software. The OBLA that is the running speed corresponding to the [LA] of 4 mmol/L was detected by interpolation from the [LA]–running speed relationship curve [ 33 ].…”

Blood lactate concentration at the maximal lactate steady state is not dependent on endurance capacity in healthy recreationally trained individuals

“…Since then, numerous studies have been published about MLSS, utilizing different types of equipment, modalities, movement patterns, use of engaging muscle groups and endurance performance. From this point of view, differences in blood lactate concentrations at MLSS intensities (MLSS[La]) presented in literature (Almarwaey et al 2004; Aunola and Rusko 1992;Bacon and Kern 1999;Baron et al 2003;Beneke 1995Beneke , 2003bBeneke et al , 2000Beneke et al , 2001Billat et al 2004;Beneke and von Duvillard 1996;Dekerle et al 2003;Denadai et al 2004;Harnish et al 2001;Haverty et al 1988;Heck et al 1985;Hofmann et al 1994;Jones and Doust 1998;Jones and Carter 2000;MacIntosh et al 2002;Mocellin et al 1990;Pringle and Jones 2002;Smith and Jones 2001;Usaj and Starc 1996;Yamamoto et al1991) had to be expected. Considering the broad range of findings associated with MLSS [La] in comparable test conditions, we examined two questions associated with high inter-individual variability in MLSS[La]: (1) the influence of broad range of endurance performance values of our subjects and (2) the influence of sex differences on endurance performance that may influence MLSS [La] determination.…”

The Influence of High-Altitude Acclimatization on Ventilatory and Blood Oxygen Saturation Responses During Normoxic and Hypoxic Testing

“…Small and inconsistent changes in P LT and P VT , as two indirect measures of endurance performance (Usaj and Starc, 1996), in the NOR testing conditions show that mountain climbing as a training stimulus does not appear to be sufficient for larger and consistent changes in endurance performance, probably due to small mechanical power output during high-altitude climbing. Oeltz et al (1986) supported this assumption with their results: relatively low values of O2max for world-class, high-altitude alpinists.…”

“…Indirect measurements were taken to estimate endurance performance: Ventilatory Threshold (VT) and Lactate Threshold (LT) were used (Amann et al, 2004; Usaj and Starc, 1996). …”