Download ALACTATE TRAINING: Does it Really Exist?

ALACTATE TRAINING: Does it Really Exist?
Mike Martino, PhD, CSCS*D Georgia College Milledgeville, GA
Thinking Outside the Box
Terminology
• Synonymous terms
– Alactic
– Alactate
– Anaerobic‐alactic
Stored Energy: High‐Energy Phosphates
• ATP stored in small amounts until needed
• Breakdown of ATP to release energy
– ATP + water + ATPase  ADP + Pi + energy
– ADP: lower‐energy compound, less useful
• Synthesis of ATP from by‐products
– ADP + Pi + energy  ATP (via phosphorylation)
– Can occur in absence or presence of O2
Bioenergetics: Basic Energy Systems
• ATP storage limited
• Body must constantly synthesize new ATP
• Three ATP synthesis pathways
– ATP‐PCr system (anaerobic metabolism)
– Glycolytic system (anaerobic metabolism)
– Oxidative system (aerobic metabolism)
ATP‐PCr System
• Anaerobic, substrate‐level metabolism
• ATP yield: 1 mol ATP/1 mol PCr
• Duration: 3 to 15 s
• Because ATP stores are very limited, this pathway is used to reassemble ATP
ATP‐PCr System
• Phosphocreatine (PCr): ATP recycling
– PCr + creatine kinase  Cr + Pi + energy
– PCr energy cannot be used for cellular work
– PCr energy can be used to reassemble ATP
• Replenishes ATP stores during rest
• Recycles ATP during exercise until used up (~3‐15 s maximal exercise)
Control of ATP‐PCr System:
Creatine Kinase (CK)
• PCr breakdown catalyzed by CK
• CK controls rate of ATP production
– Negative feedback system
– When ATP levels  (ADP ), CK activity 
– When ATP levels , CK activity 
Review of the Literature
• Jacobs, I., Tesch, P., Bar‐Or, O., Karlsson, J., & Dotan, R. Lactate in human skeletal muscle after 10 and 30 s of supramaximal exercise. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1983 Aug;55(2):365‐7.
• Hirvonen, J., Rehunen, S., Rusko, H., & Harkonen, M. Breakdown of high‐energy phosphate compounds and lactate accumulation during short supramaximal exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1987; 56(3):253‐9.
• Pernow, B. & Wahren, J. Lactate and Pyruvate Formation and Oxygen Utilization in the Human Forearm Muscles During Work of High Intensity and Varying Duration. Acta Physiol. Scand. 1962; 56:267‐
285. • Robergs, R. Exercise‐Induced Metabolic Acidosis: Where do the Protons come from? Sportscience 5(2), sportsci.org/jour/0102/rar.htm, 2001.
• Spriett, L. Anaerobic metabolism in human skeletal muscle during short‐term, intense activity. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1992 Jan;70(1):157‐65.
Key Points
• Research evidence suggests that ATP‐PCr and Glycolysis are activated instantaneously at the onset of maximal activity
• Significant levels of lactic acid are produced in under 10 sec of supramaximal exercise
• More research needs to be conducted investigating lactic acid production with so‐
called “alactate” exercise
• Concept of “alactate” work may need to be reconsidered or possibly redefined
Practical Application
• Volunteers needed • Supramaximal exercise bouts
– <10 sec maximal effort
• YSI Sport 1500 Blood Lactate Analyzer
• Blood lactate samples
– Pre‐exercise – Immediate post
– Post‐exercise (1, 3, 5 min)
QUESTIONS
Contact Information
Mike Martino, PhD, CSCS*D
[email protected]
478‐445‐6987
drmikemartino.com