HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brooks, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brooks, G. A. Related Collections Perspectives

Lactate doesn't necessarily cause fatigue: why are we surprised?

G. A. Brooks

Everyone knows that lactic acidosis causes fatigue. But is it in fact true that the fatigue associated with severe exercise is caused by lactate? And, moreover, how did this received opinion come to be? In many instances our teachers instructed us in this fact as they challenged us to read classical works of the progenitors of biochemistry and muscle physiology. Subsequently, we faithfully transferred this knowledge to our students. Routinely, the association between acidosis and fatigue is reinforced in our minds and psyches by sports journalists and commentators who reiterate what we previously conveyed through our teachings and writings. However, with the results of Nielsen et al. (2001) reported in this issue of The Journal of Physiology, as well as other recent findings, we need to reconsider the appropriateness of this Homeric transfer of knowledge concerning lactic acidosis and muscle fatigue.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. I. Lindinger Combating muscle fatigue: extracellular lactic acidosis and catecholamines J. Physiol., June 1, 2007; 581(2): 419 - 419. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. D. Karelis, M. Marcil, F. Peronnet, and P. F. Gardiner Effect of lactate infusion on M-wave characteristics and force in the rat plantaris muscle during repeated stimulation in situ J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2004; 96(6): 2133 - 2138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]