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Exercise modality influences lactate production and RPE: running vs. cycling, intervals vs. continuous
Cheng Zhang1,2, Zhenhe Dong3, Ran Feng1,4
1Sports & Medicine Integration Research Center (SMIRC), Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Frontiers in Physiology
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Cycling causes higher lactate accumulation than running, especially during high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This study introduces Lactate Production Efficiency (LPE) to guide personalized exercise prescriptions based on fatigue and lactate levels.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Metabolic Regulation
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Lactate is a key signaling molecule, not just a waste product, influencing metabolism and gene expression.
- Precise control of exercise-induced lactate is crucial for tailored exercise prescriptions, especially for specific populations.
- Understanding the relationship between lactate accumulation and perceived exertion is vital for optimizing training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between lactate accumulation and subjective fatigue during different exercise modalities and intensities.
- To compare whole-body (running) versus localized (cycling) exercise in terms of lactate response.
- To evaluate the impact of intermittent versus continuous training on lactate exposure and perceived exertion.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy adults (6 males, 6 females) completed Moderate-Intensity Interval Training (MIIT), Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT), and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) using running and cycling.
- Blood lactate area-under-curve (AUC) was measured to quantify lactate accumulation.
- Lactate Production Efficiency (LPE = AUC/RPE) was introduced to assess lactate exposure relative to perceived exertion (RPE).
Main Results:
- Cycling resulted in significantly higher lactate AUC compared to running across all intensities and training types.
- High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) cycling demonstrated a higher LPE than running, indicating greater lactate stress per unit of perceived exertion.
- Males exhibited higher running lactate AUC than females, suggesting sex-specific metabolic responses.
- Interval training (HIIT) led to greater lactate AUC compared to continuous training (MICT).
Conclusions:
- Lactate Production Efficiency (LPE) provides a novel metric to quantify exercise modality effects on the fatigue-lactate relationship.
- Localized exercise like cycling concentrates metabolic stress more effectively than whole-body running.
- Findings support sex-specific considerations for lactate response during running and highlight the effectiveness of interval training for increasing lactate exposure.
- The study offers RPE-based strategies for precision exercise prescription, advancing personalized interventions in sports medicine.
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