1. Lactate Testing in Swimming
Genadijus Sokolovas, Ph.D.,
Global Sport Technology, Inc

2. Where does lactate come from?
High intensity muscle contractions trigger anaerobic glycolysis
Lactic acid is a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis in muscle cells (non-oxidative way)
99% of lactic acid turn into the lactate under normal conditions
Lactate is the anion of lactic acid

3. Hard Swimming O2 deficit High Intensity Swimming (1-3 min swim)
Lactic Acid (Lactate), H+, Pi, AMP, ADP
Acid Environment, lower pH
Decreased Muscles Contraction Ability, Inhibited Enzymes’ Activity
Decreased Swimming Velocity

4. Lactate Testing Lactate Peak (La max) Lactate Clearance
Lactate – Swimming Intensity

5. Lactate Testing in Swimming
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LACTATE PEAK
Lactate is a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis
There is a strong correlation between lactate and swimming velocity
Sprinters have more fast twitch muscle fibers and produce larger amounts of lactate
The shorter the swimming distance, (except the 50) the higher amount of lactate is produced
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7. LACTATE PEAK AFTER RACES
Average lactate peaks after the races on various distances (men)
Distance, meters
50 FR
100 FR
200 FR
400 FR
1500 FR
10 KM
Lactate Peak, mmol/l
7.2 ± 1.1
12.3 ±3.1
11.4 ±2.0
10.3 ± 2.7
7.3 ± 1.3
3.6 ± 1.4
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8. LACTATE PEAK AND FATIGUE
Lactate peak depends on muscles fatigue. If after multiple races or intense swimming workouts athletes don’t replenish the glycogen, peak lactate will be lower.
Since peak lactates have a high correlation with swimming velocity, athlete’s performances might be lower as well. Therefore, it is important to replenish muscle glycogen before the next race.
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9. Changes of Lactate Peak During a Season
Taper – low volume, high intensity
High total (aerobic) workload volume

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LACTATE PEAK AND DIET
Increased intake of carbohydrates has been linked to larger stores of muscles glycogen which provides more fuel for anaerobic metabolism, therefore resulting in a greater production of lactate.
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11. LACTATE PEAK AND TRAINING
High volume and low intensity training reduces the athletes ability to produce peak lactates, but improves lactate clearance.
Swimmers are able to produce and tolerate higher lactate peaks during the lower volume/higher intensity phase of training.
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LACTATE PEAK AND AGE
Before and during the process of biological maturation, younger athletes don’t have the enzymatic process in place to cultivate anaerobic metabolism.
Mature athletes rely more on anaerobic metabolism. They can also tolerate higher peak lactates by pushing themselves over the limits during workouts and races.
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TOTAL TIME OF RECOVERY
Total Time of Recovery may be evaluated as a rate of lactate removal or the time it takes to remove the lactate from the bloodstream.
As we developed Lactate Clearance database, we introduced a new method to evaluate the Lactate Clearance rate based on the time it took to reach 2 mmol/l of lactate in the blood (Total Time of Recovery)
© Global Sport Technology, Inc

14. TOTAL TIME OF RECOVERY AND FATIGUE
Swimming multiple events at a swim meet may increase the Total Time of Recovery.
By swimming several races in one session, swimmers don’t have enough time to replenish muscles glycogen.
Lower amounts of glycogen will lead to lower peak lactates, which ultimately may affect the Total Time of Recovery.
© Global Sport Technology, Inc

15. Monitoring of Aerobic/Anaerobic Endurance
Monitoring of aerobic/anaerobic endurance is important for sprinters, middle distance, and distance swimmers
Lactate Clearance test after standard swimming sets:
Peak lactate (anaerobic power)
Rate of lactate clearance and total time of recovery (aerobic endurance and fatigue)
Lactate Clearance testing once a week is enough to monitor aerobic/anaerobic changes

16. Peak Lactates
If peak lactates increase, anaerobic power is higher. It is especially important for sprinters. The higher peak lactates, the higher storage of muscles glycogen.
If peak lactates decrease, more aerobic system (the most efficient) is used.
Peak lactates should be analyzed in conjunction with swimming results in the test sets

17. Lactates Clearance
Total Time of Recovery to reach 2 mmol/l line has a high correlation with individual swimming performances: the faster swim, the longer recovery.

18. Low/High Cost of Performances

19. Low/High Cost of Performances

20. COST OF SWIMMING PERFORMANCE
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21. Use of Low/High Cost of Performances Chart
If the individual performance is in a Low Cost Zone, athletes can maintain higher training stress.
Sprinters can do more anaerobic and sprint sets
Middle distance and distance swimmers can do more anaerobic and aerobic sets
If the individual performance is in a High Cost Zone, athletes should focus more on aerobic work and recovery.
© Global Sport Technology, Inc

22. Lactate – Swimming Intensity
Blood lactate accumulation during incremental exercise test
Determination of lactate threshold (anaerobic threshold)
Lactate Threshold (LT) – the point (swimming intensity) where the anaerobic system is recruited to contribute more to the energy production, accumulation of lactate in the blood

23. Lactate – Swimming Intensity
Lactate Threshold

24. Types of Lactate Thresholds
LT at fixed blood lactate concentrations:
2.0 mmol/L, 2.5 mmol/L, 3.0 mmol/L, mmol/L
Individual LT – deflection point on the blood lactate versus swimming velocity curve

25. LT at Fixed Lactate Concentrations
Testing procedure:
Incremental swimming set consisting of two stages
Each stage requiring 300 (age group swimmers) or 400 (senior swimmers) M/Y continuous swimming followed by 2 min rest
Stage 1 corresponds to 75% of maximum swimming velocity
Stage 2 corresponds to the maximum swimming velocity

26. Calculation of Swimming Velocities
Best time on 400 – 4:05.00 (245 Sec).
Maximum swimming velocity:
400 M / 245 Sec = M/Sec
75% of maximum swimming velocity:
1.633 x 0.75 = M/Sec
This corresponds to the swimming time on 400 M:
400 M / M/Sec = Sec (5:26.50)

27. LT at Fixed Lactate Concentrations
Easy pace – 75% from max on 400
Max pace on 400
Deterioration of Working Capacity
Improvement of Working Capacity

28. LT at Fixed Lactate Concentrations
Advantages:
Small number of blood samples (two is enough)
Easy to manage with large group of swimmers
Minimizing problems with detecting deflection point on “lactate – velocity” curve

29. LT at Fixed Lactate Concentrations
Disadvantages:
It is impossible to evaluate individual LT
No individual energy zones

30. Individual LT Advantages:
Evaluation of individual swimming velocities for development of aerobic and anaerobic endurance
It is possible to calculate individual borders for various energy zones
Deflection Point of the blood lactate curve – Individual Lactate Threshold

31. Individual LT Disadvantages:
Time consuming testing of lactate (at least 4 stages)
Complex analysis and evaluation of individual LT and borders between energy zones

32. Lactate – Swimming Intensity
Deterioration of Working Capacity
Improvement of Working Capacity

33. Lactate/Heart Rate Profile
It is an intermittent incremental exercise swimming test consisting of 4 to 6 stages, each requiring 200 or 300 m/y of continuous swimming followed by 2 min of rest
5 stages correspond to 75%, 81%, 87%, 93%, and 100% of 200 m/y (sprinters and middle distance swimmers) or 300 m/y (distance swimmers) velocity. Stroke rate and heart rate are determined during the swimming portion of each stage. Lactate is determined immediately after each stage

34. Lactate/Heart Rate Profile
LT is defined as the point where the primary energy system being utilized shifts from aerobic to anaerobic
The test is followed by a 23 min inactive recovery period during which lactate is recorded
Results of this procedure allow the determination of individual LT, an indicator of aerobic-anaerobic fitness, and lactate clearance rate, an indicator of aerobic fitness. The VEL and/or HR at which LT occurs can be translated to individual VEL and/or HR in each energy system

35. Lactate/Heart Rate Profile
Swimming
Recovery
LA increasing
LA clearance

36. Lactate/Heart Rate Profile
Swimming
Recovery
Heart Rate
SP1-2
ILT
EN2-3
EN1
REC