Clin Physiol Funct Imaging (2011)

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2011.01027.x

The measurement of lactate threshold in resistance exercise: a comparison of methods

Nuno Manuel Frade de Sousa1, Rodrigo Ferro Magosso1, Guilherme Borges Pereira2, Richard Diego Leite2, Vivian Maria Arakelian1, Arlindo Neto Montagnolli3, Sergio Andrade Perez2 and Vilmar Baldissera1
Programa de Pos-Graduacao Interunidades Bioengenharia, EESC FMRP IQSC, USP, 2Laboratorio de Fisiologia do Exerccio, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas da Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, and 3Departamento de Engenharia Eletrica, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brasil
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Summary
Correspondence
Nuno Manuel Frade de Sousa, USP, Departamento de Bioengenharia, Av. Trabalhador Sao-carlense, 400, Parque Arnold Schimidt, 13566-590 Sao Carlos, SP, Brasil E-mail: nunosfrade@gmail.com

Accepted for publication

Received 4 February 2011; accepted 28 March 2011

Key words
anaerobic threshold; blood lactate concentration; mathematical models; onset of metabolic acidosis; resistance training

Resistance incremental tests (IT) make it possible to determine critical metabolic and cardiovascular changes, such as the lactate threshold (LT). Different methods are frequently used to improve the exactness of LT identication. The objective of the study was to identify LT by four different methods (visual inspection, loglog, algorithmic adjustment and QLac) during resistance exercise and to evaluate which methods present more precision. Twelve men performed a maximal IT on the leg press at relative intensities of 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of 1RM with 1-min stages. During the 2-min interval between stages, capillary blood was collected for blood lactate analysis. LT was detected using each of the four methods. The intensity of LT by visual inspection method was 269 (52)% of 1RM, adjustment algorithmic method was 278 (36)% of 1RM, loglog method was 233 (35)% of 1RM and QLac method was 316 (98)% of 1RM, with signicant difference only between loglog and QLac methods. Bland and Altman analysis shows better concordance for visual inspection versus adjustment algorithmic methods. The visual inspection, algorithmic and loglog methods detected the LT at the same intensity. The mathematical models, specially the algorithmic method, provide more precision.

Introduction
The anaerobic threshold (AT), initially proposed by Wasserman (Wasserman & McIlroy, 1964), has been the subject of innumerous studies since the 1960, especially through the study of the lactate threshold (LT), an exercise intensity in incremental exercise where blood lactate concentration (BLC) begins to increase in an exponential manner (Green et al., 1983; Beaver et al., 1985; Bishop et al., 1998). This intensity is also used as a marker for the onset of a metabolic acidosis (Davis, 1985). This physiological delimitation provides important information about the major physiological systems, supporting the prescription of resistance training and to monitor training progress for healthy population, athletes and rehabilitation (Svedahl & MacIntosh, 2003). The continuous change in BLC during an incremental test (IT) makes that the visual identication of a threshold lacks precision (Gladden et al., 1985). For that reason, various methods have been proposed to improve LT detection. To determine the breakpoint in BLC, beyond the visual inspection method (Lucia et al., 2002; Riedl et al., 2010), the loglog (Burke et al., 1994; Candotti et al., 2008) and algorithmic computation (Green et al., 1983; Podolin et al., 1991) methods were frequently used. Because of the large number of methods for LT identication, the knowledge concerning those methods is essential, either for their application or for their interpretation in studies where they are employed. Although studies have demonstrated the application of LT for functional evaluation on cycling (MacIntosh et al., 2002), swimming (Ribeiro et al., 1990) or running (Weltman et al., 1990), only a few studies investigating the identication of LT in resistance exercise (Barros et al., 2004; Moreira et al., 2008; Rocha et al., 2010; Simoes et al., 2010). Consequently, many studies make a comparison between different methods during aerobic exercise, in an attempt to evaluate the most appropriate method for prescription of exercise programs (McMorris et al., 2000; Davis et al., 2007; Higa et al., 2007; Thomas et al., 2008). However, when LT was identied in resistance exercise, only two methods were used. The rst was the visual inspection method (Barros et al., 2004; Simoes et al., 2010) and the second was a mathematical model of a second-order polynomial function (Moreira et al., 2008), obtained by the ratio between BLC and the relative exercise intensity (QLac = BLC %1RM). In this context, it is essential to submit more data in the literature demonstrating LT in resistance exercise. Furthermore,
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2011 The Authors Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 2011 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine

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resistance IT at progressive percentages of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) increments make it possible to determine critical metabolic and cardiovascular changes during this type of exercise. Moreover, the mathematical models for LT identication need more investigation. The recent technological advances in equipment for the detection of LT and the use of mathematical and statistical algorithms have attended to facilitate, automate and or semi-automate this procedure. The objectives of this study were (i) to identify LT by four different methods (visual inspection, loglog, algorithmic adjustment and QLac) during an incremental leg press protocol at progressive percentages of 1RM and (ii) to evaluate which methods present more precision. We hypothesized that is possible to determine the LT through these different methods in resistance exercise and the mathematical methods would be providing more precision for LT measurement.

After a 1-min rest, three repetitions at 70% of the expected 1RM were performed. The following attempts were made to identify 1RM, with a 5-min rest between attempts. Incremental test The IT was performed 48 h after the 1RM test. The selected intensities during IT were 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of 1RM. This division of intensities was chosen because of previous studies demonstrating that the AT intensity in resistance exercise is around 30% of 1RM (Barros et al., 2004; Moreira et al., 2008; Simoes et al., 2010). Each stage lasted 1 min, and the subjects performed 20 repetitions, with each repetition lasting about 3 s, controlled by verbal commands. Passive recovery between the stages lasted 2 min to increase the intensity (%1RM) and for blood sampling collect. The end of the test was determined by the subjects incapacity to perform the movement within the previously established correct biomechanics or by the incapacity to perform the number of repetitions established for the stage. The blood samples (25 ll) were collected from the earlobe 30 s after the end of each stage using heparinized capillaries previously calibrated (Goodwin et al., 2007). BLC was immediately determined by electroenzymatic method with a lactate analyzer (1500 Sport; Yellow Springs Instruments Inc., Yellow Springs, OH, USA). Lactate threshold detection The LT detection was performed by two different methods that were previously used in the literature for AT identication in resistance exercise (Moreira et al., 2008; Simoes et al., 2010) and by two other methods that were only used in aerobic exercises (Green et al., 1983; Beaver et al., 1985). Visual inspection method The visual inspection method, proposed by Wasserman et al. (1973), was performed by the visual inspection of the plotted graphs between BLC and work load. The exercise intensity at the onset of a systematic increase in BLC was considered the LTVI. The visual inspection method was made by three independent people who had experience with this method. Algorithmic adjustment method The algorithmic adjustment method was based on Orr et al. (1982), by a double linear regression model. The calculi were developed in MATLAB version 7.4 (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). We performed a computerized 2-segment regression analysis to locate the intersection point of the segments in the BLC versus work load. The best-t regression model is chosen by minimizing the pooled residual sum of squares. The two linear regression equations (one for the lower component and one for the upper component) were set equal to each other and solved

Methods
Subjects Twelve healthy men [mean (SD) age 260 (29) years; height 18 (01) m; body mass 830 (85) kg] participated in the study. Subjects had a minimum experience of 6 months in resistance training. The participants also answered the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (Shephard, 1988). The following additional exclusion criteria were adopted: (i) use of any kind of medication or anabolic steroids; (ii) cardiovascular, neurological or orthopaedic complications that could limit the performance of the exercises. This study was approved by the local Institutional Research Ethics Committee and has been conducted according to the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki. The procedure was explained to each subject separately, and they signed informed consent forms. Experimental design The subjects accomplished two exercise sessions in the morning on different days. In the rst session, 1RM was determined. After 48 h, each subject performed an IT on leg press (LP) where BLC was measured at each stage. Finally, the LT was determined using four different methods. One-repetition maximum test The participants performed one or two sessions of adaptation on LP (Leg Press 45; Reforce, Jau, Sao Paulo, Brazil) to establish the correct biomechanics of the movement, which includes the following: (i) each repetition cycle lasted about 3 s, with 15 s for the concentric phase and 15 s for the eccentric phase; (ii) motion angle of knee between 90 and 180, controlled by an eletrogoniometer (EMG system, Brazil). After adaptation, the subjects performed 1RM test on LP as suggested by Kraemer & Fry (1995). Briey, in the warm up they performed eight repetitions at 50% of the expected 1RM.

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Lactate threshold in resistance training, N. M. F. de Sousa et al. 3

for x, which represents the work rate at the LT, called for this method as LTAA. Loglog method The loglog method was based on the traditional research of Beaver et al. (1985). The BLC and exercise intensity data were transformed to their logarithmic values. The effect of a logarithmic transformation was the linearization of the curvilinear manner observed between the BLC and exercise intensity in a non-logarithmic scale. The next step was to determine the log work rate at the LT from the loglog plot (ATLL). This was carried out by dividing the loglog data points into two segments that have a common data point as there is no statistical rationale for assigning that data point to one segment versus the other. For this study, the rst choice for the common data point was the point found by the visual inspection method. Linear regression was then performed on both segments, and the residual sum of squares was computed for each segment. The residual sum of squares for both segments was then added together as it is an index of the goodness of t for the two segments taken together. The analysis was then repeated by advancing one data point above the initial choice for the common point. It was then repeated again by retreating one data point below the initial choice for the common point. Once a minimum value was found, the two linear regression equations (one for the lower component and one for the upper component) were set equal to each other and solved for x, which represents the
Table 1 Means (SD) of intensity and blood lactate concentration (BLC) at lactate threshold calculated by visual inspection (LTVI), algorithmic adjustment (LTAA), loglog (LTLL) and QLac (LTQLac) methods. LTVI LTAA LTLL LTQLac

log work rate at the intersection of the two linear lines. The antilog of that log work rate is the work rate at the LTLL. QLac method For the QLac method, a polynomial function was applied, producing a U-shape curve similar to a lactate minimum test (Moreira et al., 2008). The ratio between BLC and the relative exercise intensity (QLac = BLC %1RM) was plotted against the relative exercise intensity (%1RM) for each stage of IT to make possible, through a mathematical adjustment, the use of a second-order polynomial function. The resulting second-order polynomial equation was derived and then solved to accurately identify the vertices of the curve, being its corresponding workload considered as LTQLac. Statistical analysis Results are expressed as means (SD). The statistical analysis was performed initially by the KolmogorovSmirnov normality test and by the homocedasticity test (Bartlett criterion). All variables analysed in the study presented normal distribution and homocedasticity. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the variables LT intensity (percentage of 1RM) and BLC. Tuckeys post-hoc test was applied in the event of signicance. The intraclass correlation coefcient was used to examine the strength of relationships among the four LT detection methods. The agreement between the protocols was conrmed using the Bland and Altman method (Bland & Altman, 1986), which were expressed as means 2SD. The level of signicance was P<005, and MEDCALC version 9.6 (Bvba, Mariakerke, Belgium) software was used.

Intensity (%1RM) 269 (52) 278 (36) 233* (35) 316 (98) BLC (mmol L)1) 191 (078) 184 (061) 158* (063) 26 (14) *Signicantly different to LTQLac (P<005).

Results
During IT, the mean maximum intensity achieved was 685 (99) % of 1RM. Mean lactate concentrations at rest and at

Figure 1 Lines of best t and lactate threshold for subject no. 6, using the visual inspection (a), algorithmic adjustment (b), loglog (c) and QLac (d) methods. 2011 The Authors Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 2011 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine

4 Lactate threshold in resistance training, N. M. F. de Sousa et al.

maximum intensity were 101 (050) mmol L)1 and 852 (227) mmol L)1, respectively. Lactate threshold was identied in all four methods (Table 1). However, for three subjects (nos. 5, 8 and 11) it was not possible to identify LT by the QLac method. The derived secondorder polynomial equation that identies the vertices of the curve outside the workload performed did not allow the identication of LT. The mean intensity of LTVI was 269 (52)% of 1RM, the LTAA was 278 (36)% of 1RM, the LTLL was 233 (35)% of 1RM and the LTQLac was 316 (98)% of 1RM. Repeated measures ANOVA

shows that only the intensity of LTLL was signicantly lower than LTQLac (P<005), expressed in percentage of 1RM. Figure 1 shows the line best t for lactate for subject 6, whose intensity values of the LT were closely related using three methods (visual inspection, algorithmic adjustment and loglog) and overeated for QLac method. The intraclass correlation coefcients was 089 for LTVI versus LTAA, 091 for LTVI versus LTLL, 073 for LTVI versus LTQLac, 096 for LTAA versus LTLL, 077 for LTAA versus LTQLac and 088 for LTLL versus LTQLac. The statistical procedure suggested by Bland and Altman was used to express the degree of agreement between the different methods, expressed in percentage of 1RM (Fig. 2). The QLac method was excluded from this analysis, once it was not possible to determine the LT with this method in three subjects. For LTVI versus LTAA and LTVI versus LTLL, 100% of the values were within the limits of agreement (Fig. 2a,b). However, the bias for LTVI versus LTAA ()09%1RM) was lower than LTVI versus LTLL (36%1RM). The Bland and Altman analysis for LTAA versus LTLL shows that one subject remained outside the limits of agreement and the bias was 45% of 1RM (Fig. 2c). The mean values of blood lactate concentration at the intensity of the LT for the different methods are shown in Table 1. Mean blood lactate concentration was 191 (078) mmol L)1 in LTVI, 184 (061) mmol L)1 in LTAA, 158 (063) mmol L)1 in LTLL and 26 (14) mmol L)1 in LTQLac. Repeated measures ANOVA shows that BLC in ATLL was signicantly different from the LTQLac (P<005). In addition, BLC in LTVI, LTLL and LTAA was not signicantly different.

Discussion
This is the rst study to our knowledge that suggests and compares different methods for LT identication in resistance exercise with support of algorithmic and loglog alternative. This cohort conrmed that it is possible to determine the LT through an IT protocol in resistance exercise using visual inspection and mathematical models. In this sense, the algorithmic method showed more quality and precision for LT identication. However, some precautions must be taken, because were also found differences between methods. Among all of these methods for LT detection, only visual inspection (Barros et al., 2004; Simoes et al., 2010) and QLac methods (Moreira et al., 2008) were used in previous studies, showing similar results to those found in this study, with LT intensity around 30% of 1RM. It is speculated that the LT in resistance exercise should be mainly marked by a hemodynamic factor (Petrofsky et al., 1981; Williams et al., 2007; Moreira et al., 2008), in which the higher percentage of 1RM (above 30% of 1RM) promotes an intramuscular pressure that increases muscular tension and becomes higher than capillary pressure, causing their blockade (Williams et al., 2007). This blockade increases anaerobic glycolysis activity and allows for the identication of a metabolic transition of the energetic pathways.

Figure 2 Graphic analysis of intensity (%1RM) data corresponding to the LTVI versus LTAA (a), LTVI versus LTLL (b) and LTAA versus LTLL (c). LT, lactate threshold.

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However, the LT in resistance exercise may be explained by other mechanisms. Simoes et al. (2010) showed a signicant augmentation in sympathetic activity at 30% of 1RM. This activity may increase the adrenal secretion of catecholamines which stimulates adrenergic receptors in muscle cells further leading to heightened glycolysis. Another mechanism that may explain the LT in resistance exercise is the progressively increasing recruitment of fast-twitch glycolytic muscle bres along with increased load. The electromyography analysis of the active muscles may give answers for this possible mechanism. The results showed that the QLac method [316 (98) % of 1RM] calculates the LT at a signicantly higher intensity than the loglog method [233 (35) % of 1RM]. In addition, QLac and loglog methods did not differ signicantly from the other methods [LTVI = 269 (52)% of 1RM; LTAA = 278 (36)% of 1RM]. Moreira et al. (2008) also did not identify differences between QLac and visual inspection methods, despite the trend to higher intensities for the QLac method. The QLac method, that uses a mathematical adjustment of a second-order polynomial function, has some disadvantages compared with other methods. It was unable to identify LT in 25% of the subjects, and the standard deviation was far superior to the others. In this sense, the QLac method was excluded from the analysis of agreement between methods due the inability to identify the LT in three subjects and could be considered a weaker method. As observed, visual inspection, algorithmic adjustment and loglog methods had no signicantly different results for LT detection in resistance exercise. Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefcient between the three methods was high, showing consistency and conformity of methods. Previous researches with aerobic exercises have already shown that these three methods can be used to determine LT (Bishop et al., 1998; McMorris et al., 2000; Davis et al., 2007; Higa et al., 2007). However, although the three methods can be used for LT identication in aerobic exercises, there are some uncertainties for the algorithmic adjustment method (McMorris et al., 2000). McMorris et al. (2000) showed that the algorithmic adjustment calculated the LT at a signicantly higher power output than the loglog method and that the t provided by the algorithmic method was not as good as those provided by the loglog method. This proposition may be in accordance with the results of this study, because Bland and Altman analysis between algorithmic adjustment and loglog methods did not show concordance. Not all subjects were within the limits suggested (one subject out of limits), and the bias was about 45% of 1RM. Consequently, LTAA had higher values than the LTLL, although no statistical differences were observed. When these two methods are separately evaluated with visual inspection technique, Bland and Altman analysis showed that all subjects are within the limits of agreement. However, the mean difference (bias) between LTVI versus LTAA was lower ()09%1RM) than between LTVI versus LTLL (36%1RM). In this manner, different to what was proposed by McMorris et al. (2000) for aerobic exercises, the algorithmic adjustment method seems to be a

good mathematic model to determine the LT in resistance exercise. The search for a mathematical model attempts to reduce the disadvantage of the visual inspection method that it is almost certainly experience dependent and clearly subjective (Davis et al., 2007). The loglog method had some advantages over the visual inspection method, as its objectivity and can occur at any value on the work rate axis. Note that in Fig. 1a, the LT determined for subject no. 6 by the visual inspection method at the work rate corresponds to the third blood lactate value. However, the LT determined by the loglog method for this subject is at a work rate between the second and third blood lactate values (see Fig. 1c). The algorithmic adjustment method has also all the advantages presented for the loglog method, and it is less likely to be fooled by sample-to-sample variations in blood lactate concentration during the early stages of graded exercise testing. In this sense, the algorithmic model used in the present investigation allowed the determination of the break point in the dynamic behaviour pattern of BLC data that occurs during resistance exercise. The disadvantage of the algorithmic method is that it is more labour-intensive than the other three methods and requires competence in working with mathematical models. However, QLac and loglog methods also require some mathematical experience. The lowest values of BLC at the LT intensity found with the loglog method compared with QLac are explained by the lowest LT intensity identied by the loglog technique. Furthermore, the BLC at the LT intensity was about 2 mmol L)1, well below the 4 mmol L)1 proposed by Heck et al. (1985) for aerobic exercises, despite its known limitations (Svedahl & MacIntosh, 2003) because of high interindividual differences (Strupler et al., 2009). More investigations are necessary to analyse if the 2 mmol L)1 range is acceptable for resistance exercises or if the variability between subjects does not suggest these results. In conclusion, the inspection, algorithmic and loglog methods detected the LT in the same intensity of resistance exercise. We recommend mathematical models, specially the algorithmic method, because it provides more precision in the LT identication. Furthermore, the QLac method is less effective and precision in healthy young men. The methods that detected the LT in the same intensity of resistance exercise are apparently simple, inexpensive and reliable.

Acknowledgments
The lead author was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES; Ref. SFRH BD 46898 2008).

Conicts of interest
The authors have no potential conicts of interest.

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2011 The Authors Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 2011 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine