The relationship of lactate to 1-mile walk performance in women aged 60 to 70 years

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected physiological variables and lactate accumulation at the end of a 1-mile walk test (MWT) in older women (mean +/- SD: 64.6 +/- 3.1 years). Seventeen women with a (V) over dot O-2 peak (ml . kg(-1) min(-1)) of 21.1 +/- 4.2 volunteered to participate. Physiological data were obtained via a COSMED K2 miniaturized O-2 analyzer with telemetric capabilities during a maximal treadmill (TM) test and MWT. Blood samples were obtained from the ear lobe for lactate analysis immediately before and after the treadmill test and MWT. Subjects performed the MWT in 15.4 +/- 1.4 min at an intensity of 76% of (V) over dot O(2)peak and 86% of HRmax. The blood lactate accumulated at the end of the MWT was 2.61 +/- 1.47 mmol/L. Peak lactate following the maximal treadmill test was 3.8 +/- 1.42 mmol/L. HR during the test was significantly related with blood lactate (r =.65,p <.01). The lactate values observed during the test suggest that the 1-mile walk test is a suitable field testing procedure for older women.