S1 Lab 2-maximal testing and lactate thresholds

what are the health and safety considerations for this practical

- warm up and cool down

- someone from group is responsible for looking after participant as the may feel light-headed or sick

- informed consent form and health screen questionnaire

- gloves worn when handling mouthpiece, nose clip and taking capillary blood samples

preparation for the practical

- fill out forms

- measure body mass to nearest 0.1kg and stature to nearest 0.01m

- fit a HR monitor to participant and check it works

- evacuate 8 Douglas bags and attach a mouthpiece and tubing to first bag

- record ambiant temperature and pressure

- allow time for familiarisation with mouthpiece and nose clip prior

procedure

- resting blood capillary sample

- adjust seat

- light warm up at 60 rpm

- stage 1 - 1.5kg (men) 1kg (women) cycling at 60rpm for 3 mins

- increase resistance by adding 0.5 kg every 3 mins until participant indicates they can only manage 1 more minute

- cool down for at least 5 mins

which measurement should be measured during the final minute of each stage and final minute of the test

- expired air

- flywheel count

- HR every 10s in final 30s

- RPE in final 15s

- blood lactate in final 15s of cycling

primary criterion for VO2max

plateau in VO2 (< or equal to 2mL.kg^-1.min^-1)

secondary criterion for VO2max

RER value of > or equal to 1.10

heart rate > or equal to 90% age predicted maximum

post exercise blood lactate concentration of > or equal to 8mmol.L^-1

What is the lactate threshold?

first increase of blood concentration above resting levels (0.5mmol.L^-1)

(0.8 resting means 1.3 is lactate threshold)

how do you determine the lactate turnpoint?

using Dmod method

connect lactate threshold with lactate value at cessation of exercise then find value on curve furthest away from line

when may it be more suitable to assess absolute (L.min^-1) rather than relative (mL.kg^-1.min^-1) VO2max?

at rest

sports like rowing/biking where body weight is not relevant

when may it be more suitable to assess relative (mL.kg^-1.min^-1) rather than absolute (L.min^-1) VO2max?

across genders when comparing stages as VO2 max is relative to body mass

weight bearing sports e.g. running

general fitness testing

ethical implications and methodological limitations of using direct measurements of maximal oxygen uptake on participants who are not well accustomed to strenuous exercise?

elderly, cardiovascular disease, lung issues, untrained participants-risk of physical harm, psychological stress

need to provide an informed consent and health screening questionnaire, familiarisation

predict VO2 max using sub maximal exercise, alternative methods

can cause participant dropout

could the results of this session be influenced by any exercise the participant has done prior to exercising? What other standardisation procedures would you implement to get reliable data?

Time of eating

diet-avoid alcohol and caffeine

exercise-avoid strenuous activity

time of day tested

How may data collected during the submaximal stages help you assess endurance performance?

can calculate VO2 max without requiring max effort

lactate threshold estimation

RPE

training zones

HR/RPE/blood lactate can change