Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(3): 199-204
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1268487
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Protocol Design on Lactate Minimum Power

M. A. Johnson1 , G. R. Sharpe1
  • 1Nottingham Trent University, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 28, 2010

Publication Date:
16 December 2010 (online)

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to use a validated lactate minimum test protocol and evaluate whether blood lactate responses and the lactate minimum power are influenced by the starting power (study 1) and 1 min inter-stage rest intervals (study 2) during the incremental phase. Study 1: 8 subjects performed a lactate minimum test comprising a lactate elevation phase, recovery phase, and incremental phase comprising 5 continuous 4 min stages with starting power being 40% or 45% of the maximum power achieved during the lactate elevation phase, and with power increments of 5% maximum power. Study 2: 8 subjects performed 2 identical lactate minimum tests except that during one of the tests the incremental phase included 1 min inter-stage rest intervals. The lactate minimum power was lower when the incremental phase commenced at 40% (175±29 W) compared to 45% (184±30 W) maximum power (p<0.01), and was increased when 1 min inter-stage rest intervals were included during the incremental phase (192±25 vs. 200±26 W, p<0.01). In conclusion, changes in lactate minimum power were small and thus unlikely to compromise test validity and therefore training status evaluation and exercise prescription.

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Correspondence

Dr. Michael Alan Johnson

Nottingham Trent University

School of Science and Technology

Clifton Campus

NG11 8NS Nottingham

United Kingdom

Phone: +44/11/5848 3362

Fax: +44/11/5848 6636

Email: michael.johnson@ntu.ac.uk