Blood LActate Metabolic Testing
Why Measure Blood Lactate?
Blood Lactate (La-) has been a major point of discussion and contention within the health, sports, and fitness world since the early 19th century when it was observed that there was more La- in the muscles of exhausted deer than there was in the muscles of partially paralyzed animals.
Often, we hear the term lactic acid when referring to the burn in the muscles one feels while exercising at high intensities. We were told that the burn was accumulation of lactic acid because the muscles were running out of oxygen which creates fatigue.
Not only do we know this to be untrue, but it’s been shown that many cells including muscle, heart, brain, and kidney cells prefer La- as a primary energy source.
One thing has remained the same. The body’s ability to clear blood lactate (and utilize it as an energy source) at higher levels of exercise intensity is a major determining factor for athletic performance, particularly when endurance is needed. We also now know that the body’s ability to clear and utilize lactate during exercise is also a major predictor of metabolic and cardiovascular health.
By measuring blood lactate we can form individualized exercise intensity prescriptions to specifically target the desired metabolic system. This will optimize your training for sport endurance, improve overall metabolic health, and lower risk factors for cardiovascular syndromes!
Whether you’re an athlete or not, it is incredibly important to know the metabolic health of your cells!
BENEFITS OF UTILIZING BLOOD LACTATE TESTING:
Identify physiological markers of Lactate Threshold 1 and Lactate Threshold 2
Formulate your physiological zones for training
Personalized exercise recommendations
Understanding your metabolic profile
Risk stratification for metabolic syndromes
Simple and empowering exercise prescriptions to improve metabolic health
HOW THE TEST IS DONE:
We use a “step test” where we start with very low intensity on a stationary Watt Bike. Then, every 3 minutes we take a blood lactate reading from a small drop of blood from the client’s earlobe and increase the intensity. Depending on the client’s exercise history, health, and goals for the testing, we can adjust the jumps in intensity to create a personalized experience for the client.
Whether you’re an endurance athlete looking to optimize training zones for specific training cycles or someone trying to take control of your metabolic health for longevity, we can cater our testing for you!