As an exercise physiologist, it is refreshing to see more attempts to explain this topic in a way that represents reality better. Just a couple of things to clarify. Healthy muscles never make lactic acid (pH ~3.5), they make lactate (pH 7.0). Lactic acid and lactate are not the same things. Lactic acid accumulation would cause death by acidosis. Moreover, lactate accumulation does not cause muscle fatigue. In fact, with a pH of 7.0, lactate delays muscle fatigue. That pH is a problem in the blood and therefore buffering in that space is important. However, lactate comes from another molecule called pyruvate. Pyruvate has a pH of 6.8 and so in effect, lactate production 'buffers' pyruvate in the muscle (not blood), delaying muscle acidosis and fatigue. Your cup analogy works to a degree, but the holes would not represent lactate buffering in muscle. They would represent the ability of muscles to use lactate for energy production (oxidative phosphorylation). What lactate accumulation in the blood means is that more lactate is being produced than can be used, signaling a problem with meeting the energy demands of the exercise. Insufficient energy production is one factor causing muscle fatigue. Blood lactate levels don't tell us much about how much lactate is being produced. It only tells us how much lactate has not been used...yet. The cup analogy would only work for intervals of more than 30 seconds or so (not sprints). In fact, even during hard, sustained efforts, lactate dynamics are quite complex and don't simply go up or down with changing intensities. Bigger holes in the cup would of course help improve performance (as long as the holes represent the ability to use lactate rather than buffer it). You can increase the cup hole sizes by both low-intensity, long duration, and high-intensity workouts. Not trying to criticize. Just trying to offer some clarification. I have been teaching this topic for over 20 years and this area of research is very difficult to navigate :-)
As an exercise physiologist, it is refreshing to see more attempts to explain this topic in a way that represents reality better. Just a couple of things to clarify. Healthy muscles never make lactic acid (pH ~3.5), they make lactate (pH 7.0). Lactic acid and lactate are not the same things. Lactic acid accumulation would cause death by acidosis. Moreover, lactate accumulation does not cause muscle fatigue. In fact, with a pH of 7.0, lactate delays muscle fatigue. That pH is a problem in the blood and therefore buffering in that space is important. However, lactate comes from another molecule called pyruvate. Pyruvate has a pH of 6.8 and so in effect, lactate production 'buffers' pyruvate in the muscle (not blood), delaying muscle acidosis and fatigue. Your cup analogy works to a degree, but the holes would not represent lactate buffering in muscle. They would represent the ability of muscles to use lactate for energy production (oxidative phosphorylation).
What lactate accumulation in the blood means is that more lactate is being produced than can be used, signaling a problem with meeting the energy demands of the exercise. Insufficient energy production is one factor causing muscle fatigue. Blood lactate levels don't tell us much about how much lactate is being produced. It only tells us how much lactate has not been used...yet. The cup analogy would only work for intervals of more than 30 seconds or so (not sprints). In fact, even during hard, sustained efforts, lactate dynamics are quite complex and don't simply go up or down with changing intensities. Bigger holes in the cup would of course help improve performance (as long as the holes represent the ability to use lactate rather than buffer it). You can increase the cup hole sizes by both low-intensity, long duration, and high-intensity workouts. Not trying to criticize. Just trying to offer some clarification. I have been teaching this topic for over 20 years and this area of research is very difficult to navigate :-)
Very helpful. Thaks Reuben.
This was pretty cool actually and I was cringing when you were drilling into the cup!
Loved the video bro!!
The part with water In the cup was a good example.
This was a great explanation of lactic acid. Loved the cup hole example . I really thought you were gonna put a hole into your hand though.
I use allá seltzer to clean more lactic acid
Great explanation!
Thanks!
Exactly the explanation I was looking for, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice & funny. I could have more holes in my cup, but I actually have too many holes in my training calendar ahaha!