The subjects performed an incremental step bench test to volitional exhaustion to determine their lactate threshold and the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). The initial load was set at 15 W. Each stage lasted 5 minutes and was increased by 15 W per stage until the subject could no longer continue. To calculate the power of the bench step, the following procedures were adopted: determination of body mass, step height and frequency increases [Power = strength (N) × speed (m/s)]. Thus, the speed was adjusted individually in each stage to generate the necessary intensity (15 W).
Prior to the first stage and at the end of each stage, LA concentration was determined with a portable lactate analyzer (Accusport, Roche, Brazil). The lactate threshold was considered the last period in which the LA concentration did not differ by more than 1 mmol·l−1 from the rest value. The OBLA was calculated assuming a fixed concentration of 4 mmol·l−1 (Svedahl and McIntosh, 2003 (link)). The test was terminated when two consecutive LA measurements were higher than 4 mmol·l−1.
Prior to the first stage and at the end of each stage, LA concentration was determined with a portable lactate analyzer (Accusport, Roche, Brazil). The lactate threshold was considered the last period in which the LA concentration did not differ by more than 1 mmol·l−1 from the rest value. The OBLA was calculated assuming a fixed concentration of 4 mmol·l−1 (Svedahl and McIntosh, 2003 (link)). The test was terminated when two consecutive LA measurements were higher than 4 mmol·l−1.