The aerobic threshold is the point during exercise when the body has enough oxygen to fuel the muscles, while the anaerobic threshold is when the body begins to produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is now believed to be used for fuel, and athletes can train their bodies to use it efficiently. Endurance athletes aim to stay within their aerobic zone for optimal efficiency.
Aerobic threshold is a term generally used to refer to a level of exercise below the anaerobic threshold (AeT). This is considered to be the point at which the oxygen supply is sufficient fuel for the muscles, and the anaerobic energy pathways have just started to kick in. This occurs at approximately 65% of maximum heart rate. The anaerobic threshold is 40 beats faster. During aerobic exercise, the body takes in oxygen, which it uses to fuel the muscles. The anaerobic threshold is reached when there is no longer enough oxygen and the body begins to produce more lactic acid.
Aerobic means “with air,” while anaerobic means “without air.” Some forms of exercise, such as walking and dancing, are aerobic because they make the heart beat faster and breathing increase to help deliver oxygen to the muscles. There is no aerobic threshold because there are no physiological changes, only the aerobic system works as it should.
When an athlete begins to feel out of breath or out of breath, this is when the body can no longer supply enough oxygen and the muscles begin to function in an oxygen-deprived state. Lactic acid begins to accumulate in the muscles. Lactic acid buildup was once believed to be a metabolic waste product that was detrimental to the athlete, leading to fatigue and muscle soreness. For this reason, the athletes were trained just below their anaerobic threshold. More recent studies conclude that lactic acid is there to be used for fuel, just like carbohydrates in muscle tissue and sugar in the bloodstream.
An athlete who has worked with resistance training will have taught their body to use lactic acid efficiently for fuel and get rid of it before it can get to the point where it causes muscle fatigue. Resistance training comprises a variety of stop-start exercises, which require sudden bursts of energy. This does not allow enough time for oxygen to reach the muscle, so the muscle must find another source of fuel, which is lactic acid.
Threshold training is what athletes doing endurance sports like cycling and long-distance running often experience. As they train, they check their heart rate monitors to make sure your heart rate is staying within a certain range or that they are measuring your aerobic threshold. This is defined as the optimal level at which the athlete is still working within their aerobic zone. Aiming for an aerobic threshold means the athlete’s lungs, heart, and other key systems can function efficiently for long periods of time. Other definition of aerobic threshold is the intensity at which the athlete can perform for hours on end.
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