Blood Lactate Concentration During a Basketball Match

Blood lactate level and heart rate are the most frequently measured physiological responses of basketball players during a game. The aim of the systematic review of the current literature was to examine the concentration of lactate during a basketball game, as well as to determine the concentration of lactate according to player position, level of play, geographical location and gender during the game. Time comparisons in separate studies revealed that lactate concentration was significantly lower in the second half than in the first. Professional players achieve higher lactate concentrations compared to semi-professional players. In addition, intrinsic and matching factors may contribute to the observed player variation, including the intensity of play prior to blood sampling, as well as the physiological preparation of the player's test sample. Blood lactate concentration is higher in Australian basketball players than in Tunisians, Spanish and British basketball players. Further research should quantify lactate concentration and heart rate in relation to active and total playing time, which is a recommendation for future researchers.