PERFORMANCE TESTING - OUTCOME

VO2MAX – Aerobic capasity

VO2max is the maximal oxygen consumption the body can consume.  Cardiovascular system provides oxygen to muscular system and the interplay of those systems determines the VO2max. VO2max is usually expressed in milliliters per minute or in milliliters per minute divided by body weight. VO2max is important metric in sports. VO2max also determines the combustion rate of lactate.

VLAMAX – Glycolytic capacity

VLamax is the maximum production rate of lactate in the body, expressed in millimoles per litre per second. Energy produced by glycolytic energy pathway creates lactate. Therefore, VLamax is a good indication for maximum glycolytic power.

MAXIMUM LACTATE STEADY STATE, MLSS

Maximum Lactate Steady State, MLSS (often anaerobic threshold) is one of the most important performance predictor of endurance sport. MLSS is the intensity (speed or power) where lactate production and lactate combustion are in balance.

ECONOMY OF MOVEMENT

Economy tells how much energy is used to move with given intensity (speed or power). Economy of movement can be one of the most important metrics in some sports, for example in swimming. With good understanding of economy, the selection of race gear can be done based on measured data. Have you ever wondered, how aerodynamic position you are able to hold on the bike without losing your economy?

FAT COMBUSTION

It is known that the energy production shifts from fat to carbohydrates with an increase in the intensity of physical activity. Maximum fat oxidation (MFO, FatMax)) can be measured and estimated by testing. FatMax is highly related to aerobic and anaerobic capacities. FatMax is reported in intensity and in kilocalories per hour.

CARBOHYDRATE COMBUSTION

By knowing the carbohydrate combustion as a function of intensity, it is possible to plan a training and racing nutrition. One way to follow and plan recovery is to follow a combustion and intake of carbohydrates. Carbohydrate combustion can be measured accurately by measuring lactate concentration as a function of intensity. Carbohydrate combustion is reported as a grams per hour.

LACTATE COMBUSTION & PRODUCTION

By knowing the aerobic and anaerobic capacities it is possible to calculate lactate production and combustion rates. By knowing these values it is possible to plan for example interval efforts with good understanding of metabolism. Also longer efforts can be planned to achieve the most efficient pacing.

ENERGETIC CONTRIBUTION

Human body uses three main energy pathways (phosphagen, glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation) to produce adenosine triphosphate for myosin heads to enable muscle contraction. Without understanding which energy pathways are used in different sports, it is not possible to plan a proper training.

TRAINING ZONES

When training, the focus should be in manipulating the physiological properties of the athlete. Therefore, all the training zones should be derived from activation of different metabolic pathways, not of fixed percentages from FTP-value.