Barbosa, LF, de Souza, MR, Correa Carita, RA, Caputo, F, Denadai, BS, and Greco, CC. Maximal lactate steady-state independent of recovery period during intermittent protocol. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3385-3390, 2011-The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the measurement time for blood lactate concentration ([La]) determination on [La] (maximal lactate steady state [MLSS]) and workload (MLSS during intermittent protocols [MLSSwi]) at maximal lactate steady state determined using intermittent protocols. Nineteen trained male cyclists were divided into 2 groups, for the determination of MLSSwi using passive ((V) over dotO(2)max = 58.1 +/- 3.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); N = 9) or active recovery ((V) over dotO(2)max = 60.3 +/- 9.0 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); N = 10). They performed the following tests, in different days, on a cycle ergometer: (a) Incremental test until exhaustion to determine (V) over dotO(2)max and (b) 30-minute intermittent constant-workload tests (7 X 4 and 1 2 minutes, with 2-minute recovery) to determine MLSSwi and MLSS. Each group performed the intermittent tests with passive or active recovery. The MLSSwi was defined as the highest workload at which [La] increased by no more than 1 mmol.L(-1) between minutes 10 and 30 (T1) or minutes 14 and 44 (T2) of the protocol. The MLSS (Passive-T1: 5.89 +/- 1.41 vs. T2: 5.61 +/- 1.78 mmol.L(-1)) and MLSSwi (Passive-T1: 294.5 +/- 31.8 vs. T2: 294.7 +/- 32.2 W; Active-T1: 304.6 +/- 23.0 vs. T2: 300.5 +/- 23.9 W) were similar for both criteria. However, MLSS was lower in T2 (4.91 +/- 1.91 mmol.L(-1)) when compared with in T1 (5.62 +/- 1.83 mmol.L(-1)) using active recovery. We can conclude that the MLSSwi (passive and active conditions) was unchanged whether recovery periods were considered (T1) or not (T2) for the interpretation of [La] kinetics. In contrast, MLSS was lowered when considering the active recovery periods (T2). Thus, shorter intermittent protocols (i.e., T1) to determine MLSSwi may optimize time of the aerobic capacity evaluation of well-trained cyclists.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)