Heart Rate–Based Prediction of Fixed Blood Lactate Thresholds in Professional Team-Sport Players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the speed associated with 90% of maximal heart rate (S90%HRmax) could predict speeds at fixed blood lactate concentrations of 3 mmol·L(-1) (S3mM) and 4 mmol·L(-1) (S4mM). Professional team-sport players of futsal (n = 10), handball (n = 16), and basketball (n = 10) performed a 4-stage discontinuous progressive running test followed, if exhaustion was not previously achieved, by an additional maximal continuous incremental running test to attain maximal heart rate (HRmax). The individual S3mM, S4mM, and S90%HRmax were determined by linear interpolation. S3mM (11.6 ± 1.5 km·h(-1)) and S4mM (12.5 ± 1.4 km·h(-1)) did not differ (p > 0.05) from S90%HRmax (12.0 ± 1.2 km·h(-1)). Very large significant (p < 0.001) relationships were found between S90%HRmax and S3mM (r = 0.82; standard error of the estimates [SEE] = 0.87 km·h(-1)), as well as between S90%HRmax and S4mM (r = 0.82; SEE = 0.87 km·h(-1)). S3mM and S4mM inversely correlated with %HRmax associated with running speeds of 10 and 12 km·h(-1) (r = 0.78-0.81; p < 0.001; SEE = 0.94-0.87 km·h(-1)). In conclusion, S3mM and S4mM can be accurately predicted by S90%HRmax in professional team-sport players.

On‐field prediction vs monitoring of aerobic capacity markers using submaximal lactate and heart rate measures

“…which is not surprising due to the similar testing procedures. Consistent with previous observations, it seems that the higher the intensity of the submaximal HR‐based test, the higher the precision to estimate V peak , as indicated by the higher correlation coefficient of the S 90 vs V peak association (Figure ). Hence, for those coaches using V peak rather than FBLC thresholds, S 90 and HR 10 might also be useful due to their simplicity, quick execution, submaximal nature, and consistent associations with V peak .…”

“…Correlation magnitudes found for S 90 were, however, lower than the ones found for BLC 10 , explaining 53% and 62% of the variance in S3mM and S4mM, respectively. To date, there has been only one study that investigated the relationships between S 90 and FBLC thresholds . In that study, very large correlation magnitudes were also found between S 90 and S3mM and S4mM in 36 professional team‐sport players using the same discontinuous progressive running field test but performed on a 40 × 20‐m indoor court.…”

“…Fixed blood lactate concentration (FBLC) thresholds, such as the running speeds associated with 3 mmol·L −1 (S3mM) and 4 mmol·L −1 (S4mM, also termed OBLA), are often preferred over other lactate thresholds . FBLC thresholds, indeed, (a) reduce the time and cost of the assessment procedure; (b) are measurable both individually in laboratory settings and in several athletes at the same time in field settings; (c) are feasible procedures to incorporate into the training monitoring of competitive athletes; (d) are related to muscle fiber type distribution and capillary density; (e) are highly reproducible; (f) unlike other lactate thresholds, are usually easy to determine; and (g) predict running performance as well as or better than other lactate thresholds . Determination of FBLC thresholds, however, is an invasive procedure requiring qualified personnel to perform several blood sample extractions per subject, plus the subsequent blood analysis.…”

“…On the other hand, non‐invasive low‐cost submaximal and easy‐to‐administer exercise test protocols have also traditionally been of general interest to the sport scientific community. In this regard, the speed associated with 90% of maximal heart rate (HR) (S 90 ) has been proposed as a practical alternative to invasive BLC measures in badminton players, and more recently, in professional team‐sport players . These studies were, however, predictive cross‐sectional studies offering a snapshot of a single moment in time, which limits the applicability of their results.…”

“…In this regard, the speed associated with 90% of maximal heart rate (HR) (S 90 ) has been proposed as a practical alternative to invasive BLC measures in badminton players, 14 and more recently, in professional team-sport players. 6 These studies were, however, predictive cross-sectional studies offering a snapshot of a single moment in time, which limits the applicability of their results. A longitudinal study in a larger sample of athletes was therefore deemed necessary to confirm the potential applicability of S 90 to monitor FBLC thresholds over a training period.…”