Effects of Training Specificity on the Lactate Threshold and V̇O₂ Peak

Abstract

We examined the effects of training specificity on the lactate threshold (LT) and V̇O²peak. Sixteen male subjects completed V̇O²peak/LT protocols on the cycle ergometer (CE) and treadmill (TM) before and after a training program. The subjects were assigned to run training (N = 5), cycle training (N = 6), and control groups (N = 5). Subjects trained 4 day/week for 10 weeks at approximately 89% of pre-training V̇O²peak. Results indicated that run training increased V̇O² at LT (V̇O₂LT) within both the CE and TM protocols (17.9 to 22.5 ml/kg-min^-1 for CE, 22.7 to 36.0 ml/kg-min^-1 for TM, p < 0.05) with the 58.5% increase in V̇O₂LT for TM being greater than the 20.3% increase for CE (p < 0.05). Cycle training resulted in a 38.7% increase in CE V̇O₂LT (19.7 to 27.4 ml/kg-min ^-1, p < 0-05) with no significant improvement in TM V̇O₂LT (23.6 to 24.0 ml/kg'min^-1). Similar increases in V̇O₂peak were observed for CE and TM protocols for both cycle and run training groups (V̇O₂peak increased by 11.9 to 20.7% in both CE and TM regardless of training mode). No changes were observed in the control group for any variable. The present data suggest that increases in LT resulting from training may be specific to the mode of exercise.

Key words

peak oxygen consumption - exercise - physical training - running - cycling