Lactate kinetics in handcycling under various exercise modalities and their relationship to performance measures in able-bodied participants.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to expand exercise testing in handcycling by (1) examining different approaches to determine lactate kinetics in handcycling under various exercise modalities and (2) identifying relationships between parameters of lactate kinetics and selected performance measures.

Methods: Twelve able-bodied nationally competitive triathletes performed a familiarisation, a sprint test, an incremental step test, and a continuous load trial at a power output corresponding to a lactate concentration (La) of 4 mmol l (PO) in a racing handcycle that was mounted on an ergometer. During the tests, La and heart rate (HR) were determined. As performance measures, maximal power output during the 15-s All-Out sprint test (PO) and maximal power output during the incremental test (PO) were determined. As physiological parameters, coefficients of lactate kinetics, maximal lactate accumulation rate ([Formula: see text]La), maximal La following the sprint test and incremental test (La, La) and the increase in La within the last 20 min of the continuous trial (La) were determined.

Results: Mean values of PO (545.6 ± 69.9 W), PO (131.3 ± 14.9 W), PO (86.73 ± 12.32 W), [Formula: see text]La (0.45 ± 0.11 mmol l s), La (6.64 ± 1.32 mmol l), La (9.64 ± 2.24 mmol l) and La (0.74 ± 0.74 mmol l) were in accordance to literature. [Formula: see text]La was positively correlated with La and PO and negatively correlated with PO. PO was negatively correlated with La. PO was negatively correlated with La.

Conclusions: [Formula: see text]La was identified as a promising parameter for exercise testing in handcycling that can be supplemented by other parameters describing lactate kinetics following a sprint test.