ridecamp@endurance.net: lactate analyzer

lactate analyzer

Beth Glace (lb@nismat.org)
Thu, 6 Mar 1997 16:00:35 +0000

I don't know horse physiology but I believe the lactate analyzer you
are wondering about is the Accusport. It was being sold by a German
Co but now is being sold by Sports Resource Group Inc, 800-462-2876.
We have one, and although I find its measurements reproducible at low
levels of lactate, it has not been very reliable when measuring
maximum lactate values. I've spoken to others users and they seem to
be happy with them, so who knows...
Lactate analyzers are sometimes measured during TRAINING in humans.
Lactic acid is produced during exercise of higher intensities when
fast-twitch muscle fibers contract. These fibers do not use oxygen
to produce energy and so are working "anaerobically". Although these
fibers can produce a lot of power, they fatigue
quickly. Lactic acid begins to accumulate in the muscle at intensities of about 60-70% of
maximal oxygen consumption in trained humans. This is called the
anaerobic threshold or lactate threshold. Contrary to some of
the postings here, lactic acid is cleared relatively quickly from the
muscle and then metabolized. It is not responsible for the soreness
one feels the days after a race. That soreness is delayed muscle
soreness and is due to micro tearing of the muscle fibers.
The higher levels of lactic acid represents the increased demand upon the fast-twitch
fibers, and, subjectively, exercise will be perceived as increasingly
difficult. Ultimately, if work load is high enough and lactate
levels high enough, it is impossible to continue exercising. Think
of that awful feeling of "tying up" when you ran the 440 yard dash in
high school: lactic acid is uncomfortable. Endurance athletes obviously want to
encourage the recruitment and training of their slow twitch fibers, thus minimizing lactate
production. By measuring their lactate they can try to work right at
the anaerobic threshold, getting a maximal aerobic workout without
much lactate production.
I don't know where the lactate threshold occurs in horses; in humans
it generally occurs at about 4 mmol of lactate. The amount of blood
used is minute, we prick the finger or prick the ear to get blood so
"needles" are not used.
Probably gave you alot more info than you wanted.
Beth Glace, M.S.
Sports Nutritionist
lb@nismat.org

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