Effects of Training Specificity on the Lactate Threshold and V̇O₂Peak

Abstract

We examined the effects of training specificity on the lactate threshold (LT) and VO2peak. Sixteen male subjects completed VO2peak/LT protocols on the cycle ergometer (CE) and treadmill (TM) before and after a training program. The subjects were assigned to run training (N = 5), cycle training (N = 6), and control groups (N = 5). Subjects trained 4 day/week for 10 weeks at approximately 89% of pre-training VO2peak. Results indicated that run training increased VO2 at LT (VO2LT) within both the CE and TM protocols (17.9 to 22.5 ml/kg.min-1 for CE, 22.7 to 36.0 ml/kg.min-1 for TM, p less than 0.05) with the 58.5% increase in VO2LT for TM being greater than the 30.3% increase for CE (p less than 0.05). Cycle training resulted in a 38.7% increase in CE VO2LT (19.7 to 27.4 ml/kg.min-1, p less than 0.05) with no significant improvement in TM VO2LT (23.6 to 24.0 ml/kg.min-1). Similar increases in VO2peak were observed for CE and TM protocols for both cycle and run training groups (VO2peak increased by 11.9 to 20.7% in both CE and TM regardless of training mode). No changes were observed in the control group for any variable. The present data suggest that increases in LT resulting from training may be specific to the mode of exercise.

Temporal Specificity in Exercise Training

“…The effect of training specificity has been well demonstrated (Pierce, Weltman, Seip, Snead, 1990;Withers, Sherman, Miller, Costill, 1981). Performance tends to be enhanced when the same mode used during training is also used during testing.…”

“…Circadian rhythms in various physiological responses to maximal exercise have been shown (Reilly & Brooks, 1990; specificity affects maximal oxygen uptake during specific endurance performance tests (Pierce et al, 1990;Withers et al, 1981). Also, studies have shown evidence of circadian specificity, that is, that responses to training may be a function to the time of day of training and testing (Torii et al, 1991;Hill et al, 1989).…”

“…Individual studies Pierce et al (1990) studied sixteen subjects and found a significant finding between the percent increase in maximal oxygen uptake and different testing protocols. The 10-wk study consisted of three groups: a control group, a cycling group, and a running group.…”

“…Also, training adaptations tend to highly correlate with specific musculature producing a beneficial effect on the efficiency of specific muscle fiber recruitment (Pierce et al, 1990;Gregory et al, 1984). Thus, it has been speculated that the responses to training may also be specific to the time of day (Hill et al, 1989;Torii et al, 1992).…”

Cinética do VO2 durante o exercício realizado na potência crítica em ciclistas e indivíduos não-treinados no ciclismo

“…Neste estudo, houve um aumento de 15% no VO 2 max, 15% na PC e 24% no LL. Portanto, a PC parece ser um índice menos sensível ao treinamento (PYNE et al, 2001;COYLE et al, 2005;PIERCE et al, 1990), provavelmente por ser influenciada por fatores associados à potência aeróbia (i.e., VO 2 max).…”