Blood lactate vs. exhaustive exercise to evaluate aerobic fitness

Abstract

This study compared the predictive power of a lactate-related index determined during submaximal cycle exercise to that of an exhaustive cycle ergometer test for evaluating the endurance exercise capacity of soldiers. The subjects (n=48 males) performed a continuous exercise test to voluntary exhaustion on the cycle ergometer. Power output (PO) increased by 50 W steps each fourth min, with determinations of heart rate (HR), RPE and blood lactate concentrations (HLa) just prior to each PO increase. The PO at a 4 mmol L⁻¹ HLa concentration (w_OBLA) was interpolated; based on the time to exhaustion the maximal PO that could be maintained for 6 min \((W_{\max _6 } )\) was calculated from previously documented formulae. Subjects were timed during a 3000 m cross-country run. Both the cycle test and the run were performed again 3 months later, as was an additional 3000 m run with full military equipment weighing about 21 kg. All 3000 m times were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with both \(W_{\max _6 } \) and W_OBLA; similar predictive power was demonstrated for both \(W_{\max _6 } \) and W_OBLA, suggesting that accuracy in evaluation would not be sacrificed by substituting the submaximal for the exhaustive exercise test. HR and RPE-related indices showed markedly lower predictive power. The results extend the previously documented relationship between HLa during treadmill ergometry and running performance to include the use of cycle ergometry for the evaluation of running performance. The results also proved applicable to running performance while load carrying.