Human Performance Analysis

01 Lactate Threshold

Lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which the blood concentration of lactate starts to exponentially increase. This accumulation of blood lactate is associated with muscular fatigue and is detrimental to performance. By assessing blood lactate at a series of exercise intensities we can create a blood lactate curve to determine an athlete's’ lactate threshold. Identifying your lactate threshold allows you to train specifically to increase your aerobic capacity, which in turn results in an ability to perform at high intensities for greater durations.

A lactate threshold test can be completed on a treadmill or on a bike.

02 Functional Threshold Power

Functional threshold power (FTP) is an important training tool for cyclists and triathletes. It is determined by completing a lactate threshold test on a cycle ergometer or on an athlete's own bike with a power meter fitted. FTP is defined as power output (watts) that can be maintained without the ‘Onset of blood lactate accumulation’ (OBLA), providing an important value for athletes during their training and competitive performance.

This allows you to:

• Identify training zones required to increase endurance
• Increase your race power output by training to increase your FTP
• Improve endurance performance on your bike

03 Functional Threshold Pace

Much like using functional threshold power for cyclists, functional threshold pace (FTP) can be an important training tool for runners. FTP for runners is sometimes referred to as ‘maximal lactate steady state velocity’ and is very closely associated with lactate threshold. FTP can be defined as the steady pace (mph) a runner can maintain without an accumulation of lactic acid, which we know is detrimental to our performance. Consequently, undertaking a sport science laboratory test to identify your running FTP is of massive benefit to training and competition performance.

This allows you to:

• Identify training pace required to increase endurance
• Increase your race pace by training to increase your FTP
• Improve your run times

04 Threshold Heart Rate

Threshold heart rate is defined as our heart rate at lactate threshold and can be obtained by performing a lactate threshold test. Like FTP, threshold heart rate (THR) provides vital data for coaches and athletes, enabling creation of specific training sessions and optimal physiological benefits from these sessions. This value is often estimated by recreational runners and cyclists in order to dictate their training sessions, however as the value is merely an estimate it is unspecific and does not yield optimal training benefits.

This allows you to:

• Train to increase your lactate threshold
• Use THR to improve your lactate threshold and enhance endurance performance

04 Swimming T-Time

The swimming T-Time test is completed in the pool with the assistance of your swim coach. This is achieved by completing a set distance time trial in order to calculate your average pace. This important test data is used by your coach to create specific training sessions at various intensities.

This allows you to:

• Train to increase your lactate threshold
• Use THR to improve your lactate threshold and enhance endurance performance