The YSI 2300 and 1500 Sport biochemistry analysers are associated with the training of many types of sports, from swimming to premiership football clubs, for the measurement of blood lactate acid
Biological measuring dimensions of oxygen absorption, heart frequency and blood lactate concentration form the basis of sports medicine diagnostics.
Because of the minimal sensitivity of heart frequency and the limited means of measuring oxygen absorption, the blood lactate parameter has proved to have an application in performance sport.
This may be explained by the considerable advances that have been made in the bioenergetics of muscle contraction and the related role of lactate in the energy metabolism of skeletal muscle, which has led to a precise indication of the use of this parameter in training control and performance diagnostics.
The whole purpose of sports medicine diagnostics is to record the trends and dynamics of the internal demands in close correlation to intensity and to check the concurrence between training objectives and the actual result.
They inform us of the effect and trend of the training carried out.
The quality and structure of the actual sporting performance may be interpreted.
They give a prognosis of potential competitive performance.
They can give conclusions for further training with regards to extent, intensity and the sequence of the training methods in use.
If we assume for the sake of simplicity, that working muscles behaved as if they were of the same type and simply contracted more quickly as exercise intensity increases, then a point is reached at which there is a significant rise in blood lactic acid.
This response to exercise is well known and has been interpreted as the inability of the aerobic mechanism to cover the needs of working muscles due to an inadequate supply of oxygen.
Lactate production during sub-maximal exercise can be explained in terms of an increased stimulation of glycogen degradation as a result of greater contractile activity in the skeletal muscle fibres.
In theory, the exercise intensity at which the aerobic mechanism can no longer cover the needs of the working muscles should be detectable as an increase in blood lactate concentration and a disproportionate increase in the ventilation rate.
This is usually described as the anaerobic threshold.
In order to further develop capability in the field of sports science, YSI has developed a consultancy relationship with Malcolm Robson, considered to be one of the world experts in the field of sports medicine and in particular, lactate testing.
He has published many articles on the use of lactate testing applied to training.
Over the years, Robson has become very familiar with the YSI biochemistry analysers used for measuring lactate, and as such has become the YSI resident expert in this field.
Some medical equipment available today for the assay of lactic acid, does not give the clinical accuracy necessary for precise diagnosis.
According to Robson, It is advisable to request from the manufacturer, not only how to obtain the highest accuracy from their instruments but also their stated testing protocols and advice on the interpretation of the blood result into actual training.
The YSI 2300 and 1500 Sport, using proven technology, do give the required clinical accuracy and precision, as well as affordability, needed to interpret blood results into training regimes.
If needed, help and advice can be given on testing protocols and interpretation of results by Robson.
Monitoring blood lactate with YSI instrumentation, will ensure accurate results and as part of a training programme should achieve the training objective.
