Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(3): 173-178
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39087
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Heart-Rate Recommendations: Transfer Between Running and Cycling Exercise?

K.  Roecker1 , H.  Striegel1 , H.-H.  Dickhuth1
  • 1Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University of Freiburg, Department of Rehabilitative and Preventive Sports Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History



Accepted after revision: September 25, 2002

Publication Date:
12 May 2003 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

With the expanding use of portable heart rate (HR) monitors in endurance sports, HR is increasingly used as a marker for exercise intensity. Hereby, HR at the so-called individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) is one possible reference point. However, once determined, it is often attempted to apply HR recommendations from one type of ergometry to different kinds of exercises. We examined whether HR at IAT and at 4 mmol × l-1 blood lactate is predictable from cycling to running and vice versa. Data of 371 subjects (304 male, 67 female) were analyzed. All subjects underwent an incremental test on a treadmill (TR, starting speed 6 or 8 km × h-1, increments 2 km × h-1 every 3 min) and on a bicycle ergometer (BE, start at 50 Watt, increments 25 or 50 Watt every 3 min). IAT was determined at a net increase of lactate concentration of 1 - 5 mmol × l-1 above lactate concentration at lactate threshold for running (as in: Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998, 30 (10); 1552 - 1557) and 1.0 mmol × l-1 for cycling. A maximum time span of three weeks was allowed between the tests. We found that heart rate at IAT or at 4 mmol × l-1 blood lactate did not correlate between cycling and running. A sports specific test seems to be a prerequisite for reliable heart rate recommendations.

Key words

Performance test - anaerobic threshold - treadmill - monitoring of training - exercise intensity

References

  • 1 Basset F A, Boulay M R. Specificity of treadmill and cycle ergometer tests in triathletes, runners and cyclists.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 214-221
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Beaver W L, Wasserman K, Whipp B J. A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange.  J Appl Physiol. 1986;  60 2020-2027
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Beneke R, von Duvillard S P. Determination of maximal lactate steady state response in selected sports events.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 241-246
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Bijker K E, de Groot G, Hollander A P. Delta efficiencies of running and cycling.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1546-1551
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Bland J M, Altman D G. Measuring agreement in method comparison studies.  Stat Methods Med Res. 1999;  8 135-160
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Carter H, Jones A M, Barstow T J, Burnley M, Williams C A, Doust J H. Oxygen uptake kinetics in treadmill running and cycle ergometry: a comparison.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 899-907
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Coen B, Schwarz L, Urhausen A, Kindermann W. Control of training in middle and long-distance running by means of the individual anaerobic threshold.  Int J Sports. 1991;  12 519-524
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Coggan AR, Raguso CA, Williams B D, Sidossis L S, Gastaldelli A. Glucose kinetics during high-intensity exercise in endurance-trained and untrained humans (see comments).  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  78 1203-1207
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Collins M A, Cureton KJ, Hill D W, Ray C A. Relationship of heart rate to oxygen uptake during weight lifting exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991;  23 636-640
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Coyle EF, Coggan AR, Hopper M K, Walters TJ. Determinants of endurance in well-trained cyclists.  J Appl Physiol. 1988;  64 2622-2630
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Dickhuth HH, Yin L, Niess A, Roecker K, Mayer F, Heitkamp H C, Horstmann T. Ventilatory, lactate-derived and catecholamine thresholds during incremental treadmill running: relationship and reproducibility.  Int J Sports Med. 1999;  20 122-127
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Fairshter RD, Walters J, Salness K, Fox M, Minh V D, Wilson AF. A comparison of incremental exercise tests during cycle and treadmill ergometry.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1983;  15 549-554
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Kindermann W, Schramm M, Keul J. Aerobic performance diagnostics with different experimental settings.  Int J Sports Med. 1980;  1 110-114
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Ljunggren G, Ceci R, Karlsson J. Prolonged exercise at a constant load on a bicycle ergometer: ratings of perceived exertion and leg aches and pain as well as measurements of blood lactate accumulation and heart rate.  Int J Sports Med. 1987;  8 109-116
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 McArdle W D, Katch F I, Pechar G S. Comparison of continuous and discontinuous treadmill and bicycle tests for max V˙O2. .  Med Sci Sports. 1973;  5 156-160
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 McArdle W D, Magel J R. Physical work capacity and maximum oxygen uptake in treadmill and bicycle exercise.  Med Sci Sports. 1970;  2 118-123
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 McLellan T M, Jacobs I. Reliability, reproducibility and validity of the individual anaerobic threshold.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1993;  67 125-131
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Miles D S, Critz J B, Knowlton R G. Cardiovascular, metabolic, and ventilatory responses of women to equivalent cycle ergometer and treadmill exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1980;  43 243-251
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Nagle F, Balke B, Baptista G, Alleyia J, Howley E. Compatibility of progressive treadmill, bicycle and step tests based on oxygen uptake responses.  Med Sci Sports. 1971;  3 149-154
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Pannier J L, Vrijens J, van Cauter C. Cardiorespiratory response to treadmill and bicycle exercise in runners.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1980;  43 243-251
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Pfitzinger P, Freedson P S. The reliability of lactate measurements during exercise.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 349-357
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Roecker K, Niess A M, Horstmann T, Striegel H, Mayer F, Dickhuth HH. Heart rate prescriptions from performance and anthropometrical characteristics.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 881-887
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Roecker K, Schotte O, Niess A M, Horstmann T, Dickhuth HH. Predicting competition performance in long-distance running by means of a treadmill test.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 1552-1557
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Sjödin B, Jacobs I. Onset of blood lactate accumulation and marathon running performance.  Int J Sports Med. 1981;  2 23-26
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Snyder A C, Woulfe T, Welsh R, Foster C. A simplified approach to estimating the maximal lactate steady state.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 27-31
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Stegmann H, Kindermann W. Comparison of prolonged exercise tests at the individual anaerobic threshold and the fixed anaerobic threshold of 4 mmol × l-1 lactate.  Int J Sports Med. 1982;  3 105-110
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Swain D P, Abernathy K S, Smith C S, Lee S J, Bunn S A. Target heart rates for the development of cardiorespiratory fitness.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 112-116
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Swain D P, Leutholtz B C, King M E, Haas L A, Branch J D. Relationship between % heart rate reserve and % V˙O2 reserve in treadmill exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 318-321
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Tarnopolsky L J, MacDougall J D, Atkinson SA, Tarnopolsky M A, Sutton J R. Gender differences in substrate for endurance exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1990;  68 302-308
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Urhausen A, Coen B, Weiler B, Kindermann W. Individual anaerobic threshold and maximum lactate steady state.  Int J Sports Med. 1993;  14 134-139
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Wasserman K, Whipp BJ, Koyl SN, Beaver WL. Anaerobic threshold and respiratory gas exchange during exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1973;  35(2) 236-243
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Weltman A, Weltman J, Rutt R, Seip R, Levine S, Snead D, Kaiser D, Rogol A. IPercentages of maximal heart rate, heart rate reserve, and V˙O2peak for determining endurance training intensity in sedentary woman.  Int J Sports Med. 1989;  10 212-216
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Whaley MH, Kaminsky LA, Dwyer GB, Getchell LH, Norton JA. Predictors of over- and underachievement of age-predicted maximal heart rate.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24(10) 1173-1179
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Dr. K. Roecker

Medical Clinic and Polyclinic · University of Freiburg · Dept. of Rehabilitative and Preventive Sports Medicine

Hugstetter Str. 55 · 79106 Freiburg · Germany ·

Email: kai.roecker@msm1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de