Relationship of peak capillary blood lactate accumulation and body composition in determining the mechanical energy equivalent of lactate during sprint cycling.

AIM: A 15-s all-out sprint cycle test (i.e., νLamax-test) and the post-exercise change in capillary blood lactate concentration is an emerging diagnostic tool that is used to quantify the maximal glycolytic rate. The goal of this study was to determine the relation between 15 s-work, change in capillary blood lactate concentration (∆La) and body composition in a νLamax-test. METHOD: Fifty cyclists performed a 15 s all-out sprint test on a Cyclus2 ergometer twice after a previous familiarization trial. Capillary blood was sampled before and every minute (for 8 min) after the sprint to determine ∆La. Body composition was determined employing InBody720 eight-electrode impedance analysis. RESULT: Simple regression models of fat-free mass (FFM) and also the product of FFM and ∆La showed similar ability to predict 15 s-work (R2 = 0.79; 0.82). Multiple regression combining both predictors explains 93% of variance between individuals. No differences between males and females were found regarding 15 s-work relative to the product of fat-free mass and ∆La. Considering pairs of similar FFM, a change 1 mmol/l of ∆La is estimated to be equal to 12 J/kg in 15 s-work (R2 = 0.85). DISCUSSION: Fifteen s-work is both closely related to FFM and also the product of ∆La and lactate-distribution space approximated by FFM. Differences in 15 s-work between males and females disappear when total lactate production is considered. Considering interindividual differences, the mechanical energy equivalent of blood lactate accumulation seems a robust parameter displaying a clear relationship between ∆La and 15 s-work relative to FFM.

Reliability of power output, maximal rate of capillary blood lactate accumulation, and phosphagen contribution time following 15-s sprint cycling in amateur cyclists.

Based on Mader's mathematical model, the rate of capillary blood lactate concentration (νLamax) following intense exercise is thought to reflect the maximal glycolytic rate. We aimed to investigate the reliability of important variables of Mader's model (i.e. power output, lactate accumulation, predominant phosphagen contribution time frames (tP Cr)) and resulting νLamax values derived during and after a 15-s cycling sprint. Fifty cyclists performed a 15-s all-out sprint test on a Cyclus2 ergometer three times. The first sprint test was considered a familiarization trial. Capillary blood was sampled before and every minute (for 8 min) after the sprint to determine νLamax. Test-retest analysis between T2 and T3 revealed excellent reliability for power output (Pmean and Ppeak; ICC = 0.99, 0.99), ∆La and νLamax with tPCr of 3.5 s (ICC = 0.91, 0.91). νLamax calculated with tPCr = tP peak (ICC = 0.87) and tP Cr = tPpeak-3.5% (ICC = 0.79) revealed good reliability. tPpeak and tPpeak-3.5% revealed only poor and moderate reliability (ICC = 0.41, 0.52). Power output and ∆La are reliable parameters in the context of this test. Depending on tPCr, reliability of νLamax varies considerably with tP Cr of 3.5 s showing excellent reliability. We recommend standardization of this type of testing especially tP Cr.

Writing while walking: The impact of cognitive-motor multi-tasking on collision avoidance in human locomotion.

BACKGROUND: When moving in public space, individuals are challenged with having to master multiple cognitive and motor demands, either simultaneously or in short succession. Empirical evidence suggests that cognitive-motor multi-tasking during walking may impact one or both, cognitive and motor performance. These performance changes may result from unintentional task-interference effects, but also from strategic behavioral changes to cope with the multiple task demands. Strategic changes in human walking behavior have been uncovered in experimental scenarios, in which individuals avoid colliding with other individuals or objects in the environment. However, whether collision avoidance behavior is sensitive to cognitive-motor multi-task demands has remained underexplored, yet. Thus, with this study, we aimed at systematically studying cognitive-motor multi-task effects on collision avoidance during human locomotion. METHODS: Ten healthy participants (23.9 ± 4.3 years, 4 female) were walking at their preferred speed from a predefined start to end position under four experimental conditions: walking only (BL), walking while having to avoid a collision with another person (IO), writing a text message on a mobile phone while walking (cognitive-motor dual-task, DT), and writing while walking with collision avoidance demand (multi-task, MT). Parameters quantifying locomotor as well as collision avoidance behavior (path length, walking speed, minimum distance, path and speed adjustment) were assessed using optical motion tracking. In addition, performance in the writing task (errors, writing speed) was examined. RESULTS: Participants' locomotor behavior was significantly affected by experimental conditions, with additive effects of multi-task demands on both path length (BL = DT < IO < MT) and walking speed (BL > IO > DT > MT). Further, participants showed an increased error rate and writing speed in the writing task when walking as compared to when standing still, independent of the presence of an interferer. Importantly, collision avoidance behavior was selectively influenced by cognitive-motor multi-task demands, with an increased minimum distance to the other person in the MT-condition, but no differences in path or speed adjustment. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest significant multi-tasking effects of writing a message on the mobile phone while walking on both locomotor behavior and writing task performance. Collision avoidance behavior seems to be selectively affected by multi-task demands, reflected in an increased minimum passing distance, without overt changes in path or speed adjustments. This may be indicative for a strategic change in collision avoidance behavior towards a more cautious strategy to account for altered attention allocation and less visual feedback when writing while walking.