Lactate kinetics during passive and partially active recovery in endurance and sprint athletes

Abstract

We investigated the effects of passive and partially active recovery on lactate removal after exhausting cycle ergometer exercise in endurance and sprint athletes. A group of 14 men, 7 endurance-trained (ET) and 7 sprint-trained (ST), performed two maximal incremental exercise tests followed by either passive recovery (20 min seated on cycle ergometer followed by 40 min more of seated rest) or partially active recovery [20 min of pedalling at 40% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) followed by 40 min of seated rest]. Venous blood samples were drawn at 5 min and 1 min prior to exercise, at the end of exercise, and during recovery at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 min post-exercise. The time course of changes in lactate concentration during the recovery phases were fitted by a bi-exponential time function to assess the velocity constant of the slowly decreasing component (tau 2) expressing the rate of blood lactate removal. The results showed that at the end of maximal exercise and during the 1st min of recovery, ET showed higher blood lactate concentrations than ST. Furthermore, ET reached significantly higher maximal exercise intensities [5.1 (SEM 0.5) W.kg-1 vs 4.0 (SEM 0.3) W.kg-1, P < 0.05] and VO2max [68.4 (SEM 1.1) ml.kg-1.min-1 vs 55.5 (SEM 5.1) ml.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.01]. There was no significant difference between the two groups during passive recovery for tau 2. During partially active recovery, tau 2 was higher than during passive recovery for both groups (P < 0.001), but ET recovered faster and sooner than ST (P < 0.05). Compared to passive recovery, the tau 2 measured during partially active recovery was increased threefold in ET and only 1.5-fold in ST. We concluded that partially active recovery potentiates the enhanced ability to remove blood lactate induced by endurance training.

Blood lactate and oxygen consumption in soccer players: comparison between different positions on the field

“…25 The anaerobic contribution to the global energy demand is emphasized when the frequency of rapid stimuli occurs due to accelerated anaerobic glycolysis. 26,27 This response is evident through the blood lactate levels, which can exceed 12 mmol . L -1 during a competitive soccer game.…”

Supramaximal Exercise

“…This has generated a double-exponential model of lactate removal (Oyono-Enguelle et al 1993;Zouloumian and Freund 1981), so that some studies have analysed lactate removal after exercise according to this model as well (Freund et al 1986;Oyono-Enguelle et al 1990;Taoutaou et al 1996). This model explains some features of lactate removal immediately after the end of exercise; the first exponential, however, is by far faster than the second, so that the asymptote is quickly attained: therefore, once the equilibrium of lactate concentration in the body has been attained, the first exponential has already reached its asymptote and the further decrease of lactate reflects has the time constant of the second exponential.…”

Effect of Selected Recovery Conditions on Performance of Repeated Bouts of Intermittent Cycling Separated by 24 Hours

“…There have not been any studies suggesting an optimal duration for active recovery. Although most studies have shown blood lactate clearance to be enhanced by active recovery Gupta, Goswami, Sadhukhan, & Mathur, 1996;Taoutaou et al, 1996;Francaux, Jacqmin, deWelle, & Sturbois;Thiriet et ai., 1993;Weltman & Regan, 1983;Watson & Hanley, 1986) (Calder, 1990). Further.…”

“…This may be explained by the observation that blood lactate clearance is enhanced by active recovery (Gupta et al. 1996;Taoutaou et al, 1996 1966). Lactate in the blood has several fates.…”