Performance
Human Performance
Exercise testing accesses the body’s capacity for physical effort and can define the limits of athletic performance as well as the functional capabilities of a symptomatic patient.
When an individual is involved in regular effort, as with an exercise prescription, the various body systems undergo a progressive adaptation and results in increase fitness.
Lactate Threshold
The lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactic acid starts to accumulate in the blood stream. When exercising below the lactate threshold intensity any lactate produced by the muscles is removed by the body without it building up. The lactate threshold is a useful measure for deciding exercise intensity for training and racing in endurance sports and can be increased greatly with training.
Lactate Threshold is determined via a graded exercise test.
During the test the speed on a treadmill is increased at regular intervals and blood samples are taken at each increment. Blood lactate is then plotted against each workload interval to give a lactate curve. Heart rate is also recorded and by this recording an athlete can use it to plan training sessions.
Leave a Comment