Lactate Threshold Testing

Lactate Threshold Testing is a method of measuring your lactate threshold, in order to help you improve your endurance performance during high intensity activity.

Lactate production markedly increases as exercise intensity increases. A possible reason for this occurrence is that fast-twitch muscle fibers become increasingly involved in muscle contraction as heavy workloads arise. These muscle fibers increase the production of lactate much more than slow-twitch (aerobic) muscle fibers do. As a result, blood lactate markedly increases because you cannot clear the lactate from the blood as fast as it is being produced. This point at which lactate is being produced at a faster rate than it can be cleared is the blood lactate threshold. When monitored, a sharp rise in the blood lactate level of the athlete is observed.

A blood lactate threshold test will determine the heart rate at which your blood lactate markedly accumulates. By knowing this, you can either train slightly below, equal to, or slightly above your blood lactate threshold, depending on the intensity of your workout. The blood lactate threshold, like VO2 Max and heart rate, is another value you can use to determine your fitness level and to develop your training programs.