Abstract
Objectives
This study compared step test, lactate minimum (LM) test and reverse lactate threshold
(RLT) test protocols with maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in free-swimming. All
test protocols used fixed duration increments and high work-rate resolution (≤ 0.03 m·s−1) to ensure high sensitivity.
Design
Validation study.
Methods
23 swimmers or triathletes (12 male and 11 female) of different ages (19.0 ± 5.9 yrs)
and performance levels (400 m personal best 1.38 ± 0.13 m·s−1, FINA points 490 ± 118) completed an incremental step test (+0.03 m·s−1 every 3 min) to determine speed at 4 mmol·L−1 and at modified maximal distance method, a LM test, a RLT test and two to five 30 min
tests (±0.015 m·s−1) to determine MLSS. Following a 200 m all-out and a 5 min rest, LM was determined
during an incremental segment (+0.03 m·s−1 every 2 min) as the nadir of the speed-lactate curve. After a priming segment with
four increments (+0.06 m·s−1), RLT was determined as the lactate apex during a reverse segment (−0.03 m·s−1) every 3 min.
Results
The mean differences (± limits of agreement) to speed at MLSS were +1.0 ± 4.1% (speed
at 4 mmol·L−1), +1.5 ± 3.5% (modified maximum distance method), −0.2 ± 4.7% (LM) and 2.0 ± 3.1%
(RLT). All threshold concepts showed good agreement with MLSS pace (intraclass correlation
coefficient ≥ 0.886).
Conclusions
Test protocols with a fixed step duration and fine increments allowed high accuracy
in estimating MLSS pace. With similar criterion agreement to the LM and RLT tests,
incremental step tests appear more practicable due to less prior knowledge required
and derivation of individual training zones.
Abbreviations:
LMT (Lactate minimum test), RLT (Reverse lactate threshold)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 25, 2022
Accepted:
May 24,
2022
Received in revised form:
May 23,
2022
Received:
January 29,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
