Alternative methods for estimating maximum lactate steady state velocity in physically active young adults

The aim of this study was to compare the velocities found in the protocols used to measure the indirect individual anaerobic threshold (IATind), glucose threshold (GT) and critical velocity (CV) with the gold standard, the maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) protocol. Fourteen physically active young adults (23±3.1 years; 72±10.97 kg; 176±7 cm; 21±5.36% body fat) performed a 3000-m track running test to determine IATind using the prediction equation and an incremental test on a treadmill to determine GT. The CV was identified by linear regression of the distance-time relationship based on 3000-m and 500-m running performance. The MLSS was identified using two to five tests on different days to identify the intensity at which there was no increase in blood lactate concentration greater than 1 mmol/L between the 10th and 30th minute. A significant difference was observed between mean CV and MLSS (P≤0.05) and there was a high correlation between MLSS and IATind (R2=0.82; P≤0.01) and between MLSS and GT (R2=0.72; P≤0.01). The Bland-Altman method showed agreement between MLSS and IATind [mean difference -0.24 (confidence interval -1.72 to 1.24) km/h] and between MLSS and GT [0.21 (-1.26 to 1.29) km/h]. We conclude that the IATind and GT can predict MLSS velocity with good accuracy, thus making the identification of MLSS practical and efficient to prescribe adequate intensities of aerobic exercise.