357 EISSN 1676-5133 Copyright© 2003 por Colégio Brasileiro de Atividade Física, Saúde e Esporte Nov/Dec 2003 Fit Perf J Rio de Janeiro 2 6 Correspondence to: Submitted: Accepted: Original Article doi:10.3900/fpj.2.6.357.e November / 2003 Octuber / 2003 Continuous training increase on the lactate threshold improves soccer players’ performance Marco Machado (CREF1 – 006427G/RJ) Curso de Fisioterapia - Universidade Estácio de Sá Laboratório de Bioquímica de Proteínas - Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro PROCIMH – Universidade Castelo Branco Alexandre L. S. Sanz (CREF1 – 003871G/RJ) Laboratório de Bioquímica de Proteínas - Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro MACHADO, M., SANZ, A.L.S., CAMERON, L.C. Continuous training increase on the lactate threshold improves soccer players’ performance. Fitness & Performance Journal, v.2, n.6, p. 357-363, 2003. Laboratório de Bioquímica de Proteínas Av Dr. Xavier Sigaud, nº 290, bl B, Térreo CEP: 22290-180 - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil ABSTRACT: It has been described that the continuous training at the lactate threshold improves performance leading to a decrease of the lactate concentrations or at the threshold of intensity. Here we measured changes in soccer athletes’ performance that were submitted to a continuous training at the lactate threshold speed, in addition to soccer conventional training. Soccer athletes (n=17) aged 18 and 20 years old were randomly divided into two groups. The former received both continuous and conventional trainings (EG, n=10), whereas the latter just conventional training (CG, n=7). The lactate threshold speed increased after the two first training weeks in both groups. In EG the lactate threshold’s speed increased during the following four weeks. Our results showed a decrease in the lactate concentration in the EG at the same velocity. These data indicate that the soccer players’ performance can be improved by a combination of both training methods. Keywords: Continuous training, Lactate, Soccer. L. C. Cameron Laboratório de Bioquímica de Proteínas - Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro Vice-Reitoria de Graduação - Universidade Estácio de Sá PROCIMH – Universidade Castelo Branco cameron@unirio.br 357-363