Identification methods of physiological transition thresholds from intermittent progressive protocols with pause

The purpose of this work was to study identification methods of physiological transition thresholds from intermittent progressive protocols with pause. In addition, compare the values of speed, heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentration ([La]) between different methods used. The participants were 10 male football players, with mean age of 19,99 ± 1,75 years. Firstly, the athletes were submitted to an anthropometric evaluation (weight, height, skin folds) followed by an intermittent progressive protocol with pause (IPP) performed in outdoors, to identify the heart rate deflection point (HRDP), second lactate threshold (LT2) and 3,5mmol.l1 fixed concentration threshold (LT3,5). The IPP started at a velocity of 9km/h with increments of 1,2km/h at each stage. The stages were composed by 10 shuttle-runs, starting at 15m and increasing 2m at each stage. Each shuttle run had an interval of 6 seconds and the stages, which were collected blood samples, had a 45-second break. This protocol was a modification proposed by Carminatti et al (2004). The HR was monitored during all the tests by a Polar frequency meter (S610i), and registered at the end of each stage. At this moment, it was collected a blood sample (25ml) from the ear to analyze the [La] in a Yellow Springs® analyzer (model 1500). In a second moment, the participants performed a high intensity exercise to induce lactic acidosis (BAKER et al, 1993) and after an 8-minute break, the subjects performed an IPP as described above. Again, the values of HR and [La] were measured at the end of the stage. By this test it was identified a lactate minimum threshold (LM) (TEGTBUR et al., 1993). The data were statistically analyzed using analyses of variance followed by Scheffé test and Pearson correlation, accepting statistical significance at p<0,05. The results show a strongly evidence in the possibility of identification of physiological transition threshold in IPP, based on HRPD, LT2, LT3,5 and LM methods. Moreover, no significant difference between speed and HR were found in the different methods used. In a another way, the [La] in the HRDP (4,4 ± 1,4mmol.l-1) had significantly increased when compared to the [La] in the LT2 (2,6 ± 0,3mmol.l-1), however did not increased when compared in the LT3,5 and LM (3,5 ± 1,5mmol.l-1). From Pearson s test some significant correlations could be found for HR between LT3,5 and HRDP (r= 0,72), LT3,5 and LT2 (r= 0,91), LM and LT2 (r= 0,82) and between LM and LT3,5 (r= 0,92). Some significant correlations could also be found for speed between LT2 and HRDP (r= 0,69), LT3,5 and HRDP (r= 0,92), LT3,5 and LT2 (r= 0,72). However, there was no significant correlation for [La] in any of the methods used. Through the results of this study, it can be concluded that it s possible to identify the physiological transition threshold in intermittent progressive protocol with pause and, apparently, all the methods are adjusted. However, there s a necessity to confirm the maximum steady state of lactate in the different speeds correspondent to each one of these methods.Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar métodos de identificação de limiar de transição fisiológica (LTF) a partir de protocolos progressivos intermitentes com pausa. Além disso, comparar os valores de velocidade, freqüência cardíaca (FC) e concentração de lactato sanguíneo ([La]) entre os diferentes métodos utilizados. Para tanto, participaram do estudo 10 atletas de futebol do sexo masculino, com idade média de 19,99 ± 1,75 anos. Inicialmente, cada atleta foi submetido a uma avaliação antropométrica (peso, estatura, dobras cutâneas) seguida de um teste progressivo intermitente com pausa (TPI) realizado em campo, para a identificação do ponto de deflexão da FC (PDFC), segundo limiar de lactato (LL2) e limiar de concentração fixa de 3,5mmol.l-1 (L3,5). O TPI iniciou com velocidade de 9km/h com incrementos de 1,2km/h a cada estágio. Os estágios foram compostos por 10 corridas de ida e volta, iniciando com 15m e aumentando 2m a cada estágio. Cada ida e volta teve um intervalo de 6 segundos e os estágios em que eram realizadas as coletas de sangue tiveram 45 segundos de pausa. Este protocolo foi modificado a partir do proposto por Carminatti et al (2004). A FC foi monitorada durante todo o teste pelo do frequêncímetro marca Polarâ (modelo S610i), sendo registrada a final de cada estágio. Neste mesmo momento, também eram coletados 25ml de sangue do lóbulo da orelha para análise da [La] no analisador portátil Yellow Springs® (modelo 1500). Em um segundo momento, foi realizado um exercício de alta intensidade para indução da acidose lática (BAKER et al, 1993) e após um intervalo de 8 minutos os sujeitos realizaram o TPI conforme descrito acima. Novamente foram registrados os valores de FC e [La] ao final de cada estágio. A partir deste teste foi identificado o limiar de lactato mínimo (LM) (TEGTBUR et al., 1993). Os dados obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente através de análise de variância seguida pelo teste de Scheffé e correlação de Pearson, sendo adotado o nível de significância de p