Abstract

The individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) as defined by STEGMANN is determined by using the blood lactate-performance relationship during incremental graded exercise and the following recovery phase. Aim of the study was to investigate the validity of the IAT as a measure for the maximum lactate steady state (max Lass) and the monitoring of endurance training. 16 endurance athletes performed a stepwise increasing cycle ergometer test (CE) until exhaustion (increase 50 W/3 min), 14 endurance athletes performed the multistage steptest on a treadmill (TM) (increase 0.5 m/s every 3 min) to determine the IAT and the 4 mmol/l La-threshold (AT). Afterwards endurance tests (E) limited to 30 min (CE) or 45 min (TM) were performed with intensities of 85, 95, 100 and 105 of the IAT (E85-E105) and with 100 of the AT (AT100) (only on CE) in a randomized order each on different days. Lass was present without premature break-off during E85 (in 30 out of 30 cases), E95 (30/30 cases) and E100 (26/30 cases). At E105 and AT100 (104+-7 IAT) mean La increased continuously and/or led to a premature break-off (15/30 cases). All subjects with an AT below their IAT were in Lass during AT100. We conclude that the IAT can be regarded as a reliable estimation of the range of max Lass, although 100 of IAT does not necessarily represent exactly the max Lass in all individuals. Workloads below and at IAT usually are in Lass. An intensity of 95 IAT seems to be advisable for high intensity endurance training, 80-90 IAT for low intensity training. Verf.-Referat