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Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
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Published on: March 20, 2012

Lactic acid and exercise performance : culprit or friend?

Simeon P Cairns1

  • 1Institute of Sport and Recreation Research New Zealand, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. simeon.cairns@aut.ac.nz

Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|April 1, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Lactic acid accumulation is not the primary cause of skeletal muscle fatigue. Recent studies suggest lactate and hydrogen ions may even enhance exercise performance, challenging the traditional

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Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Muscle Physiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The role of lactic acid accumulation in skeletal muscle fatigue has been debated for decades.
  • Traditional views implicated lactate and hydrogen ions (H+) in decreased muscle force and power output.
  • Recent research challenges these long-held beliefs regarding the detrimental effects of acidosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evidence for and against the 'lactic acid hypothesis' of muscle fatigue.
  • To explore the potential ergogenic effects of lactate and acidosis on exercise performance.
  • To reconcile conflicting findings between isolated muscle studies and whole-body exercise observations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical and recent scientific literature on lactate, H+ ions, and muscle fatigue.
  • Analysis of studies involving isolated muscle fibers (skinned and intact), whole muscles, and human exercise performance.
  • Examination of experimental data from varying temperatures and physiological conditions.

Main Results:

  • Evidence linking lactate/H+ accumulation to fatigue is largely correlational.
  • Studies on isolated muscle preparations show minimal detrimental effects, and sometimes protective or ergogenic effects, of acidosis and lactate.
  • In contrast, induced acidosis can worsen fatigue in whole-body exercise, while alkalosis may improve performance in certain durations.

Conclusions:

  • The 'lactic acid hypothesis' as a primary cause of skeletal muscle fatigue is questionable.
  • Lactate and acidosis may have complex, context-dependent roles, potentially being ergogenic in some scenarios.
  • Severe plasma acidosis in whole-body exercise might impair performance via reduced central nervous system (CNS) drive to muscles.