What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold.

VO2max is the maximum volume of oxygen the body can deliver to muscles at work per minute. The lactate threshold along VO2max is considered the most responsive physiological indicator to endurance training and physical efficiency. Therefore, dependent on the level of training, the lactate threshold occurs at different levels. For untrained individuals, it would be at 50% of max, while experience with endurance training raises it to 75% and higher. With endurance training, a person is able to maintain a steady exercise intensity at higher levels, remaining below the lactate threshold for longer. A variety of factors influence the rate of lactate accumulation, such as exercise intensity, muscle fiber type, rate of blood lactate removal, and associated adaptive response of the working muscles (capacity of aerobic respiration). CO2 production shows a nonlinear increase during exercise, with increased CO2 representing a shift towards anaerobic metabolism. This is called the ventilatory breakpoint and is considered to be an estimate of when the lactate threshold is reached.

Oxygen-dependent (aerobic) metabolic pathways adapt based on an individual’s lifestyle as either sedentary or actively training, which also reflects on the blood lactate threshold. The lactate threshold is determined primarily by the oxidative capacity of the skeletal muscle, which increases in trained muscles. Since elite athletes have VO2max, which 50-100% greater than sedentary individuals, the absolute oxygen consumption (leading to greater power output and/or speed) can be generated for a longer amount of time.

Answer by Academic.tip's expert
An answer to this question is provided by one of our experts who specializes in biology. Let us know how much you liked it and give it a rating.

Cite this page

Select a citation style:

References

Academic.Tips. (2021) 'What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold'. 18 September.

Reference

Academic.Tips. (2021, September 18). What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold. https://academic.tips/question/what-factors-influence-the-percent-of-vo2max-at-which-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-that-is-for-some-people-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-at-50-of-their-max-while-for-others-it-occurs-at-75-of-thei/

References

Academic.Tips. 2021. "What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold." September 18, 2021. https://academic.tips/question/what-factors-influence-the-percent-of-vo2max-at-which-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-that-is-for-some-people-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-at-50-of-their-max-while-for-others-it-occurs-at-75-of-thei/.

1. Academic.Tips. "What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold." September 18, 2021. https://academic.tips/question/what-factors-influence-the-percent-of-vo2max-at-which-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-that-is-for-some-people-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-at-50-of-their-max-while-for-others-it-occurs-at-75-of-thei/.


Bibliography


Academic.Tips. "What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold." September 18, 2021. https://academic.tips/question/what-factors-influence-the-percent-of-vo2max-at-which-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-that-is-for-some-people-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-at-50-of-their-max-while-for-others-it-occurs-at-75-of-thei/.

Work Cited

"What factors influence the percent of VO2max at which the lactate threshold occurs? That is, for some people, the lactate threshold occurs at 50% of their max, while for others, it occurs at 75% of their max. What causes these differences? In addition to listing the factors, explain how they would increase or decrease the threshold." Academic.Tips, 18 Sept. 2021, academic.tips/question/what-factors-influence-the-percent-of-vo2max-at-which-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-that-is-for-some-people-the-lactate-threshold-occurs-at-50-of-their-max-while-for-others-it-occurs-at-75-of-thei/.

Copy