Lactate step test

Stop guessing and start measuring. The lactate step test is at the heart of modern performance diagnostics. While standard heart rate monitors are often only based on rough estimation formulas, analyzing the blood lactate concentration provides us with objective data about your metabolism. This allows us to precisely determine your individual resilience and your optimal training zones for lactate.

How does the lactate step test work?

The physiological basis is as simple as it is precise: at low levels of exertion, your body generates energy using oxygen (aerobic metabolism). If the intensity increases, at some point the oxygen is no longer sufficient and the body produces more lactate (lactic acid).

By measuring the lactate concentration in the blood, we determine exactly two crucial points:

Aerobic threshold: The area in which you optimally train your fat metabolism and basic endurance.
Anaerobic threshold: The maximum load that you can maintain over a longer period of time without your muscles „over-acidifying“.

The procedure at KardioPro in Düsseldorf

The test is performed on a bicycle ergometer or treadmill. The load is gradually increased every 3 to 5 minutes.

Measurement: At the end of each stage, we take a tiny drop of blood from the earlobe.
Parameters: We simultaneously document your lactate value, heart rate and your performance (in watts or km/h).
Gold standard: For maximum precision, we often combine the lactate test with a Spiroergometry. We also measure your respiratory gases to determine your maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and to determine the exact fat-burning pulse.

Your benefit: Training with a system

The aim of the diagnostics at Neuer Stahlhof is a customized training plan. The results of the level test provide you with clear guidelines for:

Regenerative training: For active recreation.
Basic endurance (GA1/GA2): To economize your cardiovascular system.
Interval training: For a targeted increase in your competition speed.

Who is the test suitable for?

Ambitious athletes: Marathon runners, triathletes and cyclists who want to overcome plateaus and achieve new best times.
Beginners & returners: To train healthily and without excessive demands right from the start.
Patients for weight reduction: To determine the exact heart rate for maximum fat burning.