Blood lactate accumulation during arm exercise in world class kayak paddlers and strength trained athletes

Blood lactate accumulation was studied during progressive arm exercise in male and female world class kayak paddlers (K male, K female, n = 11), weight-/power-lifters (WL/PL, n = 6), bodybuilders (BB, n = 8) and non-athletes (NA, n = 6). The heavy resistance trained athletes exhibited greater upper-body muscle volume than the other subject groups. During low submaximal exercise intensities, blood lactate concentrations were significantly lower both in male and female kayakers compared with WL/PL, BB, and NA. Mean values at 120 W were 1.9 (K male), 2.1 (K female), 4.8 (WL/PL), 4.5 (BB), and 5.1 (NA) mmol X l-1. At higher power outputs the difference between females and non-kayakers diminished, while the difference between K male and all other groups increased. Exercise tolerance was greatest in K male and was equal among the other groups. Our results suggest that factors other than the muscle mass per se involved in exercise are responsible for the blood lactate response during this kind of work. Moreover, the physiological response observed in kayakers probably represents the upper limit of man's ability to perform continuous progressive arm-cranking exercise.