The OBLA (onset of blood lactate accumulation), is a method used to estimate the lactate threshold (LT). However, It is unclear the effect of ambient temperature on OBLA. The aim of this study was to compare OBLA determined in warm (40°C) and temperate (22ºC) environments. Nine men (age: 23.9±2.4 years, body mass: 75.9±7.3kg and VO2máx: 47.8±4.9 mL•kg-1•min-1) performed an incremental test in cycle ergometer to determine the maximal power output (Wmax) and OBLA in the heat (OBLA-40) and temperate (OBLA-22) environments. The Wmax (195±25W vs 225±28W) and the power output associated with the OBLA (153±30 W vs 165±32W) were lower in warm than in temperate experiments. The heart rate at OBLA-40 was higher than in OBLA-22 (171±8 vs 153±10 bpm, respectively). No difference was found in oxygen uptake at OBLA-22 and OBLA-40 (31.65±5.21 vs 31.12±6.82 mL•kg-1•min-1). The results indicate that environmental conditions influence the OBLA determination.
Lactate; Exercise; Environment temperature; Oxygen uptake
