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Heart rate threshold related to lactate turn point and steady-state exercise on a cycle ergometer

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate heart rate threshold (HRT) related exercise intensities by means of two endurance cycle ergometer tests using blood lactate concentration. [La], pulmonary ventilation (\(\dot V\) E), oxygen uptake (\(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} \)), heart rate (HR) and electromyogram (EMG) activity of working muscle. Firstly, 16 healthy female students [age, 21.4 (SD 2.8) years; height, 167.1 (SD 5.1) cm; body mass 62.7 (SD 7.1) kg] performed an incremental exercise test (10 W each minute) on an electrically braked cycle ergometer until they felt exhausted. The HRT and lactate turn point (LTP) were assessed by means of computer-aided linear regression break point analysis from the relationship of HR or [La] to power output. No significant difference was found between HRT and LTP for all the variables measured. Secondly, two endurance tests (ET) of 20 min duration were performed by 7 subjects. The first (ET I) was performed at an exercise intensity which was about 10% lower than the power output at HRT [61.2 (SD 3.1) % maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} \) max)], the second (ET II) at an exercise intensity about 10% higher than the power output at HRT [79.2 (SD 3.4) %\(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} \) max]. The parameters measured showed a clear steady state in ET I. All mean values were lower than values at HRT [power, 138.7 (SD 18.9) W; HR, 172.1 (SD 4.7) beats·min−1;\(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} \), 2.2 (SD 0.3) l·min−1;\(\dot V\) E, 54.0 (SD 9.1) l·min−1; [La], 3.7 (SD 1.1) mmol·l−1; EMG, 81.1 (SD 24.0) μV] except HR which was the same. No parameters showed a steady state (except EMG activity) in ET II. No subject was able to maintain the exercise for the whole 20 min in ET II [mean time to cessation of the exercise was 10.4 (SD 3.7) min]. At the end of ET II all variables measured were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in ET I (except EMG activity) [HR, 184.3 (SD 5.2) and 172.1 (SD 8.7) beats·min−1;\(\dot V\) E: 75.2 (SD 11.7) and 49.6 (SD 8.4) l·min−1;\(\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} \), 2.9 (SD 0.7) and 2.1 (SD 0.5) l·min−1; [La], 7.0 (SD 1.8) and 3.3 (SD 2.2) mmol·l−1; EMG, 86.3 (SD 28.7) and 75.9 (SD 21.5) μV]. Although no exercise, at HRT exactly was performed, we assume that maximal steady state lay in between ET I and ET II.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14/I, A-8010, Graz, Austria

    P. Hofmann, H. Leitner & G. Gaisl

  2. Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    V. Bunc

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Graz, Austria

    R. Pokan

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Hofmann, P., Bunc, V., Leitner, H. et al. Heart rate threshold related to lactate turn point and steady-state exercise on a cycle ergometer. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 69, 132–139 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609405

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