Blood Lactate Concentration/Heart Rate Relationship: Laboratory Running Test vs. Field Roller Skiing Test

Abstract

Laboratory treadmill running tests are commonly used to assess the effects of training programs and to prescribe training intensity for cross-country skiers. The present study compared the blood lactate concentration ([La])/heart rate (HR) relationship obtained during a laboratory treadmill running test and used to prescribe training intensities, to the same relationship obtained during a field roller skiing test in ten young male cross-country skiers of national level. The laboratory test consisted of a maximal incremental protocol involving 3 min steps during which metabolic and cardio-respiratory parameters were measured. The field test comprised four loops (4 km long) at different intensities from warm-up speed to maximum aerobic speed during which HR and [La] were measured. For a given HR, [La] values obtained during the field test were significantly higher compared with those measured in the laboratory test (mean difference from 0.2 mmol × l^-1 for HR = 147 bpm, to 4.9 mmol × l^-1 for HR = 182 bpm; p < 0.05). Exercise specificity, i. e. upper body involvement for roller skiing, as well as protocol characteristics, particularly longer step duration, could explain this discrepancy. The results of the present study highlight the importance of exercise and protocol specificity for [La]/HR relationship currently used to prescribe exercise intensity in cross-country skiing.

Lactate - heart rate - roller skiing - running - exercise protocol characteristics

References

• 1 Allen W K, Seals D R, Hurley B, Hagberg J M. Lactate threshold and distance running performance in young and older endurance athletes.  J Appl Physiol. 1985;  58 1281-1284
• 2 Baldwin K M, Campbell P J, Cooke D A. Glycogen, lactate, and alanine changes in muscle fibber types during graded exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1977;  43 288-291
• 3 Bergh U, Kanstrup I L, Ekblom B. Maximal oxygen uptake during exercise with various combinations of arm and leg work.  J Appl Physiol. 1976;  41 191-196
• 4 Brooks G A. The lactate shuttle during exercise and recovery.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1986;  18 360-368
• 5 Broussouloux O, Lac G, Rouillon J D, Robert A. Evaluation of young cross-country skiers by running and roller skiing tests.  Science et Sports. 1996;  11 120-123
• 6 Costill D L. The relationship between selected physiological variables and distance running performance.  J Sports Med Phys Fitn. 1976;  7 610-616
• 7 Farrell P A, Wilmore J H, Coyle E F, Billing J E, Costill D L. Plasma lactate accumulation and distance running performance.  Med Sci Sports. 1979;  11 338-334
• 8 Fink W J, Costill D L, Handel P J. Leg muscle metabolism during exercise in the heat and cold.  Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1975;  34 183-190
• 9 Flore P, Therminarias A, Oddou-Chirpaz M F, Quirion A. Influence of moderate cold exposure on blood lactate during incremental exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol Occup. 1992;  64 213-217
• 10 Foxdal P, Bergquist Y, Sjoding A, Ostamn B. The validity and accuracy of blood lactate measurements for prediction of maximal endurance running capacity. Dependency of analysed blood media in combination with different designs of the exercise test.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  156 89-95
• 11 Foxdal P, Sjoding A, Sjoding B. Comparison of blood lactate concentrations obtained during incremental and constant intensity exercise.  Int J Sports Med. 1996;  17 360-365
• 12 Gaskill S. Ideas for using a heart rate monitor for cross country ski training. Journal of Professional Ski Coaching and Instruction 1984: 71-73
• 13 Heck H, Mader A, Hess G, Mucke S, Muller R, Hollmann W. Justification of the 4 mmol/l lactate threshold.  Int J Sports Med. 1985;  6 117-130
• 14 Hopkins W G. Quantification of training in competitive sports. Methods and applications.  Sports Med. 1991;  12 161-183
• 15 Kindermann W, Simon G, Keul J. The significance of the aerobic-anaerobic transition for the determination of work load intensities during endurance training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1979;  42 25-34
• 16 La Fontaine TP, Londeree B R, Spatz W K. The maximal steady state versus selected running events.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1981;  13 190-192
• 17 Lehmann M, Berg A, Kapp R, Wessinghage T, Keul J. Correlation between laboratory testing and distance running performance in marathoners of similar performance ability.  Int J Sports Med. 1983;  4 226-230
• 18 MacDougall J D. The anaerobic threshold: its significance for the endurance athlete.  Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Science. 1977;  2 137-140
• 19 Mader A. Evaluation of the endurance performance of marathon runners and theoretical analysis of test results.  J Sports Med. 1991;  31 1-19
• 20 Millerhagen J O, Kelly J M, Murphy R J. A study of combined arm and leg exercise with application to nordic skiing.  Can J Appl Spt Sci. 1983;  8 92-97
• 21 Mittelstadt S W, Hoffman M D, Watts P B, O’Hagan K P, Sulentic J E, Drobish K M, Gibbons T P, Newbury V S, Clifford P S. Lactate response to uphill roller skiing: diagonal stride versus double pole techniques.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;  27 1563-1568
• 22 Mygind E, Larson B, Klausen T. Evaluation of specific test in cross country skiing.  J Sport Science. 1991;  9 249-254
• 23 Nagle F D, Robinhold D, Howley E, Daniels J, Baptista G, Stoedefalke K. Lactic acid accumulation during running submaximal aerobic demands.  Med Sci Sports. 1970;  2 182-186.
• 24 Oyono-Enguelle S, Heitz A, Marbach J, Ott C, Gartner M, Pape A, Vollmer J C, Freund H. Blood lactate during constant-load exercise at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1990;  60 321-330
• 25 Ready A E, Huber H R. Physiologic response of nordic ski racers to three modes of sport specific exercise.  Can J Sport Sci. 1990;  15 213-217
• 26 Richter E A, Sonne N J, Christensen N J, Galbo H. Role of epinephrine for muscular glycogenolysis and pancreatic hormonal secretion in running rats.  Am J Appl Physiol. 1981;  240 526-532
• 27 Rieu M, Miladi J, Ferry A, Duvallet A. Blood lactate during submaximal exercises. Comparison between intermittent incremental exercises and isolated exercises.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1989;  59 73-79
• 28 Roberg R A, Roberts S O. Exercise Physiology - Exercise, Performance and Clinical Applications. Boston; WBC Mcgraw-Hill 1996: 73
• 29 Rundell K W. Treadmill roller ski test predicts biathlon roller ski race results of elite U.S. biathlon women.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;  27 1677-1685
• 30 Rundell K W. Differences between treadmill running and treadmill roller skiing.  Journal of strength and conditioning research. 1996;  10 167-172
• 31 Rusko H, Havu M, Karvinen E. Aerobic performance capacity in athletes.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1978;  38 151-159
• 32 Sawka M N, Miles D S, Petrofsky J S, Wilde W, Glaser R M. Ventilation and acid-base equilibrium for upper body and lower body exercise.  Aviat Space Environ Med. 1982;  53 354-359
• 33 Sjodin B, Jacobs I. Onset of blood lactate accumulation and marathon running performance.  Int J Sports Med. 1981;  2 23-26
• 34 Toner M M, Glickman E L, McArdle W D. Cardiovascular adjustments to exercise distributed between the upper and lower body.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 773-778
• 35 Wasserman K. The anaerobic threshold measurement to evaluate exercise performance.  American Review of Respiratory Disease. 1984;  129 S35-S40
• 36 Yoshida T, Takeuck N, Suda Y. Arterial versus venous blood lactate increase in the forearm during incremental bicycle exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1982;  50 87-93
• 37 Zeni A I, Hoffman M D, Clifford P S. Relationships among heart rate, lactate concentration, and perceived effort for different types of rhythmics exercise in women.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1996;  77 237-241