The aim of this investigation was to analyze and compare different incremental protocols (IP) to identify the lactate threshold (LT) in resistance exercise. 12 male volunteers (23.3 ± 1.6 years) adapted to resistance exercise were submitted to two incremental tests performed in leg-press 45º (LP). The IP were: 1) concerned with the maximum workload test (IP%1RM), with incremental load corresponding to 19, 28, 32, 37, 41, 45, 55 and 60% of 1RM; 2) concerned with the body weight (IP%BW), with incremental load of 17, 33, 50, 67, 83, 100, 117 and 133% of the BW. Both IP had stage duration of 1-min, each with 30 repetitions. During intervals between stages (2-min to IP%1RM and 1-min to IP%BW), 25 µL of blood were collected from ear lobe and then placed in Eppendorff microtubes for blood lactate concentration [Lac] dosing. It was possible to identify LT from the responses of the [Lac] in both protocols. No significant differences were observed between the LT intensities determined by absolute (IP%1RM - 72.3 ± 12.5 vs. IP%BW - 65.9 ± 11.5 kg; p > 0.05) and relative loads (IP%1RM - 32.3 ± 4.2 vs. IP%BW - 31.6 ± 4.3 %1-RM; p > 0.05). High correlation was observed between the IP%1RM and IP%BW both for absolute (r = 0.90; p < 0.01) as well as for relative loads (r = 0.83; p < 0.01). In conclusion, despite protocols modifications during the incremental test on resistance exercise, it was possible to identify the LT in LP in the studies sample in which relative and absolute intensities did not differ from each other and presented high correlation between them. The results suggest that LT in resistance exercise should be identified through a protocol with increments based on the BW %. Such procedure has the advantage of not submitting the participant to a previous 1 RM incremental test.
anaerobic threshold; lactate threshold; incremental protocol in resistance exercise; methods
