Monitoring Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Professional Soccer Players: Is It Worth the Prick?

Buchheit et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiorespiratory fitness monitoring in professional soccer players (n=19). Repeated graded incremental treadmill tests (HRex and V4mmol monitoring) was evaluated on Correlation between between-tests changes in submaximal exercise heart rate (HRex) and speed associated with 4 mmol/L of blood lactate (V4mmol) (r = 0.82, 95% CI 0.65-0.91). Changes in submaximal exercise heart rate and the speed associated with 4 mmol/L of blood lactate were largely correlated (r = 0.82) in professional soccer players, suggesting they can be used interchangeably.