Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
09:24

A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers

Published on: January 28, 2020

Predicting maximal lactate steady state in children and adults

Ralph Beneke1, Hermann Heck, Helge Hebestreit

  • 1Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, England, UK.

Pediatric Exercise Science
|February 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Blood lactate concentration (BLC) measured during exercise tests effectively predicts maximal lactate-steady-state (MLSS) workload in children and adults. A BLC of 3.0 mmol/L during an incremental test is a reliable indicator, regardless of age.

Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Pediatric Sports Medicine
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Maximal lactate-steady-state (MLSS) workload is a key indicator of endurance capacity.
  • Predicting MLSS workload in children using blood lactate concentration (BLC) during incremental tests is under-researched.
  • Understanding BLC responses in children during exercise is crucial for performance assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predictive value of BLC during incremental load tests for MLSS workload in children.
  • To compare the BLC response to exercise intensity between children and adults.
  • To determine if BLC at a specific threshold reliably predicts MLSS workload irrespective of age.

Main Methods:

  • 17 children and 18 adults underwent incremental exercise tests.
  • Blood lactate concentration (BLC) was measured at various exercise intensities.
  • Maximal lactate-steady-state (MLSS) workload was determined for each participant.

Main Results:

  • MLSS workload was 4.1 +/- 0.9 mmol/L in both children and adults.
  • Workload at a BLC of 3.0 mmol/L during incremental testing explained 80% of the variance in MLSS workload (p < .001).
  • This predictive relationship was independent of age, despite children showing a higher increase in power relative to maximum incremental test power.

Conclusions:

  • BLC measured during incremental exercise tests is a strong predictor of MLSS workload in children and adults.
  • A BLC of 3.0 mmol/L during an incremental test serves as a reliable indicator for predicting MLSS workload across different age groups.
  • Children exhibit a faster BLC response to exercise intensities compared to adults, without compromising the predictive accuracy of MLSS workload.

More Related Videos

Hyperpolarized 13C Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging11:43

Hyperpolarized 13C Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging

Published on: December 30, 2016

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise11:15

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Published on: March 20, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue01:24

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue

Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective response...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Determination of Michaelis Constant and Maximum Elimination Rate01:20

Determination of Michaelis Constant and Maximum Elimination Rate

The Michaelis constant (KM) and the theoretical maximum process rate (Vmax) are vital parameters in the Michaelis-Menten equation, central to many biochemical reactions. They provide essential insights into enzyme kinetics and drug metabolism.
These parameters can be estimated by analyzing plasma concentration data post-drug administration. A notable example of this application is phenytoin, a drug with capacity-limited kinetics. It's recommended that phenytoin should be administered at two...