Accuracy of a Modified Lactate Minimum Test and Reverse Lactate Threshold Test to Determine Maximal Lactate Steady State

Abstract

Wahl, P, Manunzio, C, Vogt, F, Strütt, S, Volmary, P, Bloch, W, and Mester, J. Accuracy of a modified lactate minimum test and reverse lactate threshold test to determine maximal lactate steady state. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3489-3496, 2017-This study evaluated the accuracy of a modified lactate minimum test (mLMT), a modified reverse lactate threshold test (mRLT), compared with 2 established threshold concepts (onset of blood lactate accumulation [OBLA] and modified maximal deviation method [mDmax]) to determine power output at maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in cycling. Nineteen subjects performed an mLMT, mRLT, graded exercise test (100 W start, +20 W every 3 minutes) and 3 or more constant-load tests of 30 minutes to determine power output at MLSS. The mLMT and mRLT both consisted of an initial lactate priming segment, followed by a short recovery phase. Afterward, the initial load of the subsequent incremental or reverse segment was calculated individually and was increased or decreased by 10 W every 90 seconds, respectively. The mean difference to MLSS was +2 ± 7 W (mLMT), +5 ± 10 W (mRLT), +9 ± 21 W (OBLA), and +6 ± 14 W (mDmax). The correlation between power output at MLSS and mLMT was highest (r = 0.99), followed by mRLT (r = 0.98), mDmax (r = 0.95), and OBLA (r = 0.90). Because of the higher accuracy of the mLMT and the mRLT to determine MLSS compared with OBLA and mDmax, we suggest both tests as valid and meaningful concepts to estimate power output at MLSS in one single test in moderately trained to well-trained athletes. Additionally, our modified tests provide anaerobic data and do not require detailed knowledge of the subjects' training status compared with previous LMT or RLT protocols.