Female sex was associated with lower absolute power output but higher relative power output and heart rate at first and second lactate thresholds compared with males (P < .001).
Cross-Sectional (n=44)
Do females and males differ in power output and heart rate at first and second lactate thresholds during incremental cycle-ergometer testing?
Females exhibit higher relative power output and heart rate at lactate thresholds compared to males, suggesting that exercise prescription guidelines should be tailored by sex.
p-value: p=<.001
PURPOSE: To investigate differences between females and males at lactate thresholds 1 (LT1) and 2 (LT2). METHODS: Twenty-four female and twenty male participants performed an incremental cycle-ergometer test until exhaustion, where LT1 and LT2 were determined in each volunteer. RESULTS: Power output at LT1 and LT2 was lower in females than in males (P < .001). In addition, power output relative to peak power was higher in females at LT1 and LT2 (P < .001). However, heart rate was higher in females than males at LT1 and LT2 (P = .008). Furthermore, the heart rate relative to maximal heart rate was higher in females compared with males at LT1 and LT2 (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Females and males may be in a different metabolic situation at the same percentage of maximum. This study helps to reduce sex bias in science, and future guidelines should consider establishing exercise prescription recommendations according to sex. CLINICAL TRIAL: NCT06104150.
Benítez‐Muñoz et al. (Mon,) reported a cross-sectional. Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on Power output and heart rate at lactate thresholds 1 (LT1) and 2 (LT2) (p=<.001). Female sex was associated with lower absolute power output but higher relative power output and heart rate at first and second lactate thresholds compared with males (P < .001).