The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison

The second lactate threshold (LT2) has previously been associated with endurance performance; however, comparisons between sexes are lacking regarding its efficacy. The aim of this study was to compare LT2 between men and women, specifically regarding its (a) relationship with endurance performance...

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Main Authors: Hoffmann, S., Skinner, T., van Rosendal, S., Osborne, M., Emmerton, Lynne, Jenkins, D.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69767
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author Hoffmann, S.
Skinner, T.
van Rosendal, S.
Osborne, M.
Emmerton, Lynne
Jenkins, D.
author_facet Hoffmann, S.
Skinner, T.
van Rosendal, S.
Osborne, M.
Emmerton, Lynne
Jenkins, D.
author_sort Hoffmann, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The second lactate threshold (LT2) has previously been associated with endurance performance; however, comparisons between sexes are lacking regarding its efficacy. The aim of this study was to compare LT2 between men and women, specifically regarding its (a) relationship with endurance performance and (b) capacity to establish training and competition intensities. Competitive male (mean ± SD: age, 27.7 ± 4.7 years; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, 59.7 ± 5.2 ml·kg·min; n = 10) and female (mean ± SD: age, 27.3 ± 6.2 years; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, 54.5 ± 5.3 ml·kg·min; n = 12) cyclists and triathletes completed an incremental cycle trial to volitional fatigue (for determination of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and LT2 via the modified D-max method), a constant load (±5%) exercise trial of 30 minutes at LT2 power output, and a 40-km cycle time trial. The LT2 significantly correlated with 40-km cycling performance in both men (r = -0.69 to -0.77; p < 0.01-0.05) and women (r = -0.63 to -0.75; p < 0.01-0.05). All men sustained LT2 power output for 30 minutes, compared with 82% of women. Despite LT2 reflecting a similar heart rate, V[Combining Dot Above]O2, and [La] to those elicited during a 40-km time trial in both men and women, power output at LT2 was 6% higher (p < 0.05) than mean time trial power output in women, with no significant difference in men. Based on these findings, sex-specific recommendations have been suggested in regard to the use of LT2 for establishing performance potential, prescribing endurance training intensities and setting 40-km performance intensity.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-697672018-09-11T06:17:34Z The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison Hoffmann, S. Skinner, T. van Rosendal, S. Osborne, M. Emmerton, Lynne Jenkins, D. The second lactate threshold (LT2) has previously been associated with endurance performance; however, comparisons between sexes are lacking regarding its efficacy. The aim of this study was to compare LT2 between men and women, specifically regarding its (a) relationship with endurance performance and (b) capacity to establish training and competition intensities. Competitive male (mean ± SD: age, 27.7 ± 4.7 years; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, 59.7 ± 5.2 ml·kg·min; n = 10) and female (mean ± SD: age, 27.3 ± 6.2 years; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, 54.5 ± 5.3 ml·kg·min; n = 12) cyclists and triathletes completed an incremental cycle trial to volitional fatigue (for determination of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and LT2 via the modified D-max method), a constant load (±5%) exercise trial of 30 minutes at LT2 power output, and a 40-km cycle time trial. The LT2 significantly correlated with 40-km cycling performance in both men (r = -0.69 to -0.77; p < 0.01-0.05) and women (r = -0.63 to -0.75; p < 0.01-0.05). All men sustained LT2 power output for 30 minutes, compared with 82% of women. Despite LT2 reflecting a similar heart rate, V[Combining Dot Above]O2, and [La] to those elicited during a 40-km time trial in both men and women, power output at LT2 was 6% higher (p < 0.05) than mean time trial power output in women, with no significant difference in men. Based on these findings, sex-specific recommendations have been suggested in regard to the use of LT2 for establishing performance potential, prescribing endurance training intensities and setting 40-km performance intensity. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69767 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002654 restricted
spellingShingle Hoffmann, S.
Skinner, T.
van Rosendal, S.
Osborne, M.
Emmerton, Lynne
Jenkins, D.
The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison
title The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison
title_full The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison
title_fullStr The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison
title_full_unstemmed The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison
title_short The Efficacy of the Lactate Threshold: A Sex-Based Comparison
title_sort efficacy of the lactate threshold: a sex-based comparison
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69767