Blood lactate response to active recovery in athletes vs. non-athletes

Optimal active recovery is 80% of lactate threshold for trained individuals, yet this may differ for untrained individuals. Therefore, our goal was to investigate the lactate response during optimal active recovery for athletes vs. non-athletes. Sixteen adults (21 ± 1 year, BMI: 26.5 ± 3.6 kg·m−2) were enrolled in a cohort study (collegiate athletes vs. non-athletes). Visit one determined participant lactate threshold and VO2max. Visit two consisted of a brief, but intense running protocol followed by active recovery at 80% of lactate threshold. Heart rate and lactate were taken at rest and every four minutes during active recovery. General mixed linear modeling was used (Alpha p < 0.05) and Cohen’s d was calculated for effect size. Post hoc analysis of individual time points used Bonferroni adjustment. There was a significant difference in overall lactate (β = − 2.34 mmol·L−1·min−1, p < 0.001, d = 2.32) favoring athletes and at each time point during active recovery (all p < 0.005). There was a significant difference in overall heart rate favoring athletes (β = − 14 bpm, p = 0.003, d = 1.64) and individual time points (all p < 0.005). Lactate removal during active recovery (80% of lactate threshold) demonstrated a significant difference between athletes vs. non-athletes. Optimal intensity of active recovery for non-athletes should be further investigated.