Abstract

We examined the effects of training specificity on the lactate threshold (LT) and VO2 peak. Sixteen male subjects completed VO2peak/LT protocols on the cycle ergometer (CE) and treadmill (TMM) 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 VO2peak. Results indicated that run training increased VO2 at LT (VO2LT) within both the CE and TM protocols (17.9 to 22.5 ml/kg/min for CE, 22.7 to 36.0 ml/kg/min for TM, p < 0.05) with the 58.5 increase in VO2LT for TM being greater than the 20.3 increase for CE (p < 0.05). Cycle training resulted in a 38.7 increase in CE VO2LT (19.7 to 27.4 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05) with no significant improvement in TM VO2LT (23.6 to 24.0 ml/kg/min). Similar increases in VO2peak were observed for CE and TM protocols for both cycle and run training groups (VO2peak 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. Verf.-Referat