Blood lactate concentration following intermittent and continuous cycling tests of anaerobic capacity.

The purpose of this study was to compare the time and the magnitude of peak blood lactate concentration [La] following three 90-s cycle-ergometer tests. Intermittent all-out, continuous all-out, and continuous constant cycling tests were performed by 19 hockey players and 19 physical education students. Eight fingertip blood samples were drawn 1-11 min into recovery. [La] was similar between 3 min and 8 min of recovery for the three 90-s tests. [La] at the individual peak time was similar to that in samples taken at 1-4 min for the intermittent all-out test, 2-6 min for the continuous all-out test, and 2-4 min for the continuous constant cycling test. The intermittent and continuous all-out tests produced higher [La] at the individual peak time than did the continuous constant test. The intermittent all-out test produced an earlier peak [La] than the continuous tests. Both time and magnitude of peak [La] are dependent on the mode of testing.