Abstract
Competitive runners will occasionally undergo exercise in a laboratory setting to obtain predictive and prescriptive information regarding their performance. The present research aimed to assess whether the physiological demands of lab-based treadmill running (TM) can simulate that of over-ground (OG) running using a commonly used protocol. Fifteen healthy volunteers with a weekly mileage of ≥ 20 km over the past 6 months and treadmill experience participated in this cross-sectional study. Two stepwise incremental tests until volitional exhaustion was performed in a fixed order within one week in an Outpatient Clinic research laboratory and outdoor athletic track. Running velocity (IATspeed), heart rate (IATHR) and lactate concentration at the individual anaerobic threshold (IATbLa) were primary endpoints. Additionally, distance covered (DIST), maximal heart rate (HRmax), maximal blood lactate concentration (bLamax) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) at IATspeed were analyzed. IATspeed, DIST and HRmax were not statistically significantly different between conditions, whereas bLamax and RPE at IATspeed showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). Apart from RPE at IATspeed, IATspeed, DIST, HRmax and bLamax strongly correlate between conditions (r = 0.815–0.988). High reliability between conditions provides strong evidence to suggest that running on a treadmill are physiologically comparable to that of OG and that training recommendations and be made with assurance.
Highlights
General exercise examinations such as multistage incremental exercise testing (IET) are common practice for assessing recreational and professional athletes [1]
The Shapiro-Wilk test showed that data is normally distributed (ΔRT & treadmill running (TM): p = 0.389)
Six and nine participants achieved a right shift of their IATspeed in TM and RT, respectively
Summary
General exercise examinations such as multistage incremental exercise testing (IET) are common practice for assessing recreational and professional athletes [1]. Validation of a multistage incremental exercise test science, the use of motorized treadmills in a laboratory setting is a widely accepted method as it is well standardized, reproducible and facilitates the measurement of targeted performance parameters, e.g. heart rate, ventilation and blood lactate (bLa) [5]. It is of interest for athletes and coaches alike to be able to identify the overall endurance capacity, which has been defined as the highest constant exercise intensity that can be maintained for a sustained duration without a continuous rise in bLa [1]. To prescribe tolerable and safe exercise interventions in various patient groups assessing bLa can be an useful tool as well [5,10,11,12,13]
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