Blood Lactate Testing

Muscles use carbohydrate to provide energy for muscle movement, and in muscle cells the fuel can be used in two ways: aerobic (with oxygen) or anaerobic (without oxygen). Lactate is formed when carbohydrate is used anaerobically for energy, and when sufficient oxygen is available it is usually reconverted back to carbohydrate or used as a fuel itself. The aerobic pathway is limited in the amount of energy it can supply, and the duration over which it supplies energy. It does not provide energy quickly enough to satisfy the demands of high-intensity exercise or prolonged muscle activity. Muscles draw more heavily on the anaerobic pathway to support intensive or prolonged exercise, resulting in the production of a large amount of lactate, which cannot be removed until exercise is complete.

Elevated levels of blood lactate tend to lower blood pH with consequent disturbance of metabolism/protein structure, and beyond tolerance levels result in muscle fatigue or ‘cramp’.

Initially lactate concentrations rise slowly, but then increase sharply at a clearly defined point, the ‘lactate threshold’, which corresponds to the shift in metabolism to anaerobic within the muscle cells after exercise has begun. At this point, lactate is being produced faster than it can be metabolised and it accumulates, passing into the blood.

By identifying your threshold very accurate intensities/heart rates can be set for your session. This will allow you to increase your tolerance to lactate and run faster for a prolonged period. It will also help you to prevent over training and undue fatigue caused by long ineffective training programmes.

Testing will be carried out on either a Treadmill, Stationary Bike (or your own on a turbo trainer), Rower. You will be given a full report with recommendations and a sport specific training programme. If you use a heart rate monitor then this test is essential to you.