363
The Reproducibility of the 4 mmol/l Lactate Threshold in Trained and Untrained Women H.-Ch. Heitkamp, M Holdt, K. Scheib Medical Clinic V, Sportsmedicine (Medical Director Prof. Dr. H.-H. Dickhuth) Eberhard-Karis-University TUbingen, Germany
H-Ch. Heitkamp, M Holdt, and K. Scheib, The Reproducibility of the 4 mmol/l Lactate Threshold in Trained and Untrained Women: Int J Sports Med, Vol 12, No4,pp363—368, 1991. Accepted after revision: September 27, 1990
Lactate threshold measurements are part of the routine testing done for training and diagnostic purposes. The reproducibility of the 4 mmoll I has, however, rarely been investigated. Twenty-seven untrained and 10 endurance-trained females each performed two incremental spiroergometric treadmill tests at 5 % grade, with three-minute speed increase intervals. Running speed at the
threshold increased from 1.9 to 2.1 msec
in the un-
the trained trained and remained constant at 3.4 m sec group. Heart frequency and oxygen uptake did not change significantly in either group. The variability of changes be-
tween untrained individuals expressed by correlation coefficients was r=0.63 for oxygen uptake, 0.55 for running speed and 0.42 for heart frequency. These figures for the trained persons were r=0.61; 0.92 and 0.88, respectively. The higher reproducibility of the anaerobic threshold in trained women supports the high value attached to the an-
aerobic threshold in training guidance. For untrained women, training recommendations on the basis of treadmill tests must consider treadmill running speed to be 0.14 m sec higher than initially achieved during the first test because of coordination problems. Training-guidance-based heart frequency must take into account a higher variability for untrained than for trained females. Key words
Anaerobic threshold, reproducibility, untrained and trained women, training
The concept of the anaerobic threshold at 4 mmoli — 1lactate was introduced by Mader eta!, in 1976 (16) and modified by Kindermann et a!. in 1979 (13), by Sjödin et al. in 1981 (20), by Jacobs in 1981 (9) and by Karisson and Jacobs in 1982 (12). The most frequently used anaerobic threshold is that introduced by Kindermann et al. (13). The reproducibility of ergometric tests is high, but it has seldom been investigated for the anaerobic threshold. Variations in daily food intake, depletion of glycogen stores in the muscles (9) and training routine all appear to influence the lactate performance curve, and thus the lactate
threshold (6). Environmental factors such as temperature must also be taken into account (3, 11).
These confounding factors do not diminish the
importance of the anaerobic threshold at 4 mmolF in performance diagnosis and prognosis, for competition running speed recommendations as well as training guidance for
endurance athletes (7). Maximal tests are no longer considered absolutely neccessary (10). Expecially for training guidance in endurance training for competition, highly reproducible methods are required. But also untrained persons who want to start an endurance program need reliable training information. In spite of the importance of the lactate threshold concept, there is surprisingly little literature on its reproducibility on the treadmill. What does exist in the way of published results has mostly been appended as additional information in studies concerning other questions. Moreover, very few results obtained on the bicycle ergometer showed good reproducibility. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investi-
gate the reproducibility of the anaerobic threshold at 4 mmol l — treadmill.
1
(13) in untrained and trained women on the
Material and Methods
Twenty-seven untrained women aged 24±3 years (height 167 5 cm, weight 61 7kg) and 10 female run-
ners aged 24±4 years (height 171 5 cm, weight 60 4 kg) were each tested twice on a treadmill (Jaeger, WUrzburg, FRG). The untrained women did not engage in any endurance
sport activity while the other group trained 38 15 km per week. The untrained group did not have any treadmill exmt. J. SportsMed. 12(1991)363—368 GeorgThieme Verlag Stuttgart New York
perience while 7 of the trained group did.
Downloaded by: National University of Singapore. Copyrighted material.
Introduction
Abstract
364 mt. J. Sports Med. 12(1991)
H.-Ch. Heitkamp, M Holdt, K. Scheib
lmmot.1111
12.
mmot.Hi
6.
6.
4.
4.
o Test I o TestIl
2.
17
2.2
2.
o Test I o Test II
28 3.3 (m.sec *5% gradel
2.2
2.8
33
39
44
[msec1f5% grade I
Lactate performance curve of 27 female students in test I and test II; x-axis: running speed starting at 1.7 msec1; y-axis: lactate. Fig. 1
Fig. 2 Lactate performance curve of 10 endurance-trained females in test I and II; x-axis: running speed starting at 2.2 msec1; y-axis: lactate.
Performance para meters at the anaerobic threshold in a group of 2 7 untrained females
Table 1
Speed
Heart rate
(msec
(beatmin
(%)
173.3 7.3
89.3
2.06
SD
1.92 0.31
3.3
0.40
2.06 0.35
172.5
88.9
SD
8.6
3.8
p
The Reproducibility of the 4 mmol/l Lactate Threshold in Trained and Untrained Women H.-Ch. Heitkamp, M Holdt, K. Scheib Medical Clinic V, Sportsmedicine (Medical Director Prof. Dr. H.-H. Dickhuth) Eberhard-Karis-University TUbingen, Germany
H-Ch. Heitkamp, M Holdt, and K. Scheib, The Reproducibility of the 4 mmol/l Lactate Threshold in Trained and Untrained Women: Int J Sports Med, Vol 12, No4,pp363—368, 1991. Accepted after revision: September 27, 1990
Lactate threshold measurements are part of the routine testing done for training and diagnostic purposes. The reproducibility of the 4 mmoll I has, however, rarely been investigated. Twenty-seven untrained and 10 endurance-trained females each performed two incremental spiroergometric treadmill tests at 5 % grade, with three-minute speed increase intervals. Running speed at the
threshold increased from 1.9 to 2.1 msec
in the un-
the trained trained and remained constant at 3.4 m sec group. Heart frequency and oxygen uptake did not change significantly in either group. The variability of changes be-
tween untrained individuals expressed by correlation coefficients was r=0.63 for oxygen uptake, 0.55 for running speed and 0.42 for heart frequency. These figures for the trained persons were r=0.61; 0.92 and 0.88, respectively. The higher reproducibility of the anaerobic threshold in trained women supports the high value attached to the an-
aerobic threshold in training guidance. For untrained women, training recommendations on the basis of treadmill tests must consider treadmill running speed to be 0.14 m sec higher than initially achieved during the first test because of coordination problems. Training-guidance-based heart frequency must take into account a higher variability for untrained than for trained females. Key words
Anaerobic threshold, reproducibility, untrained and trained women, training
The concept of the anaerobic threshold at 4 mmoli — 1lactate was introduced by Mader eta!, in 1976 (16) and modified by Kindermann et a!. in 1979 (13), by Sjödin et al. in 1981 (20), by Jacobs in 1981 (9) and by Karisson and Jacobs in 1982 (12). The most frequently used anaerobic threshold is that introduced by Kindermann et al. (13). The reproducibility of ergometric tests is high, but it has seldom been investigated for the anaerobic threshold. Variations in daily food intake, depletion of glycogen stores in the muscles (9) and training routine all appear to influence the lactate performance curve, and thus the lactate
threshold (6). Environmental factors such as temperature must also be taken into account (3, 11).
These confounding factors do not diminish the
importance of the anaerobic threshold at 4 mmolF in performance diagnosis and prognosis, for competition running speed recommendations as well as training guidance for
endurance athletes (7). Maximal tests are no longer considered absolutely neccessary (10). Expecially for training guidance in endurance training for competition, highly reproducible methods are required. But also untrained persons who want to start an endurance program need reliable training information. In spite of the importance of the lactate threshold concept, there is surprisingly little literature on its reproducibility on the treadmill. What does exist in the way of published results has mostly been appended as additional information in studies concerning other questions. Moreover, very few results obtained on the bicycle ergometer showed good reproducibility. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investi-
gate the reproducibility of the anaerobic threshold at 4 mmol l — treadmill.
1
(13) in untrained and trained women on the
Material and Methods
Twenty-seven untrained women aged 24±3 years (height 167 5 cm, weight 61 7kg) and 10 female run-
ners aged 24±4 years (height 171 5 cm, weight 60 4 kg) were each tested twice on a treadmill (Jaeger, WUrzburg, FRG). The untrained women did not engage in any endurance
sport activity while the other group trained 38 15 km per week. The untrained group did not have any treadmill exmt. J. SportsMed. 12(1991)363—368 GeorgThieme Verlag Stuttgart New York
perience while 7 of the trained group did.
Downloaded by: National University of Singapore. Copyrighted material.
Introduction
Abstract
364 mt. J. Sports Med. 12(1991)
H.-Ch. Heitkamp, M Holdt, K. Scheib
lmmot.1111
12.
mmot.Hi
6.
6.
4.
4.
o Test I o TestIl
2.
17
2.2
2.
o Test I o Test II
28 3.3 (m.sec *5% gradel
2.2
2.8
33
39
44
[msec1f5% grade I
Lactate performance curve of 27 female students in test I and test II; x-axis: running speed starting at 1.7 msec1; y-axis: lactate. Fig. 1
Fig. 2 Lactate performance curve of 10 endurance-trained females in test I and II; x-axis: running speed starting at 2.2 msec1; y-axis: lactate.
Performance para meters at the anaerobic threshold in a group of 2 7 untrained females
Table 1
Speed
Heart rate
(msec
(beatmin
(%)
173.3 7.3
89.3
2.06
SD
1.92 0.31
3.3
0.40
2.06 0.35
172.5
88.9
SD
8.6
3.8
p
