ABSTRACT
Metabolic acidosis (a reduction in the normal pH of a fluid or tissue by endogenous production of acidic substances) represents an area of confusion with regard to sport and exercise fatigue. Many coaches, athletes, and students (and academics) hold the view that the development of acidosis, primarily via lactic acid accumulation, is a key cause of fatigue. As usual, however, it is a little more complicated. This chapter will discuss acidosis from the perspective of lactic acid, lactate, and hydrogen production. The links between these factors and fatigue will be evaluated, and recent research that challenges these links will be discussed. While reading this chapter, it is important to remember that most of the knowledge is still being added to, and the topic remains fiercely debated among academics and researchers. Therefore, the information is not the final word on the topic of metabolic acidosis but is a summary of where our knowledge currently sits.
