Effect of recovery on the maximal lactate steady state

The objective of this study was to compare the power corresponding to maximal lactate steady state determined through continuous (MLSSC) and intermittent protocol with active recovery (MLSSI). Ten trained male cyclists (25 +/- 4 yr., 72.5 +/- 10.6 kg, 178.5 +/- 4.0 cm), performed the following tests on a cycle ergometer: (1) incremental test until voluntary exhaustion to determine the maximal power (Pmax); (2) two to five constant workload tests to determine MLSSC, and; 3) two to three constant workload tests to determine MLSSI, consisting on eight repetitions of four minutes interspersed by two minutes of recovery at 50% Pmax. The MLSSC (273.2 +/- 21.4 W) was significantly lower than MLSSI (300.5 +/- 23.9 W). With base on these data, it can be verified that the intermittent exercise mode utilized in this study, allows an increase of 10% approximately, in the exercise intensity corresponding to MLSS.