The Dmax is Highly Related to Performance in Middle-Aged Females

Abstract

The present study examined whether the running speed at the lactate threshold estimated by the maximal deviation method (LT_Dmax) is highly correlated and in agreement with 10-km road race performance (S_10 km) in middle-aged female runners. Additionally, the LT_Dmax was compared with the visual detection of the inflection point (LT_Visual), the fixed lactate level of 4 mmol.L⁻¹ (LT₄) and the peak speed (S_peak) in relation to performance. Sixteen middle-aged, recreational female runners performed a discontinuous, incremental treadmill test. The initial speed was set at 7 km.h⁻¹, and this speed was increased every 3 min by 1 km.h⁻¹ with a 30-s rest between the stages used for earlobe capillary blood sample collection. All of the participants took part in the same local 10-km road race, and S_10 km mean speed was calculated. The speeds (mean±SD) were 10.5±1.0 (S_10 km), 10.5±1.0 (LT_Visual), 10.9±0.9 (LT_Dmax), 11.4±1.3 (LT₄) and 13.5±1.1 km.h⁻¹ (S_peak). The LT_Dmax had the narrowest limits of agreement (0.3±0.4 km.h⁻¹) and was the most highly correlated with the S_10 km (r=0.98), followed by the S_peak (r=0.95), LT₄ (r=0.85) and LT_Visual (r=0.81). In conclusion, the LT_Dmax should be more widely used to estimate long-distance performance and to verify improvements in training.

Key words

agreement - correlation - lactate threshold - maximal deviation method

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