Small bandages that appeared on the earlobes of German Bayern Munich players during training raised questions about the reason for their use, before it turned out that they cover the places where blood samples were drawn as part of a test that helps the technical staff evaluate the physical condition of the players and determine the appropriate intensity of exercise for them.
Sportsscape magazine reported that the medical staff draws a few drops of blood to measure the level of lactate, a substance whose percentage in the blood increases with the increase in the intensity of physical effort. The test results help determine the extent of the players’ bodies’ response to the training loads and their ability to withstand them.
Despite the recent interest in bandages, these tests are not new at Bayern, as the Technical University of Munich has documented their use with team players since at least 2013.
Why are blood samples taken from the ear?
Specialists draw small drops of blood from the earlobe during physical exams to measure lactate levels, then place a small adhesive strip on the puncture site.
The test results help the technical staff specialized in physical preparation know how each player’s body responds to increased intensity of effort, by monitoring the change in the level of lactate in the blood as training loads increase. The more intense the exercise, the more lactate the body produces, and its level in the blood may rise faster when the effort exceeds the body’s ability to get rid of it as quickly as it produces it.
These measurements are especially important during high-intensity training, as two players may perform the same exercise, but one of them reaches a high level of lactate before the other, which indicates a difference in their response to effort and their ability to withstand it. Based on these differences, the technical staff can adjust the intensity, duration, and rest periods of training to suit the physical condition of each player, instead of subjecting all players to identical loads.
The technical staff does not rely on lactate measurements alone in making these decisions, but rather analyzes them alongside other indicators, most notably heart rate, to obtain a more accurate assessment of the player’s physical condition and the extent of his adaptation to training requirements.
How do Bayern conduct the test?
In June 2013, the Technical University of Munich documented that Bayern players underwent a test to measure lactate, coinciding with the beginning of the era of Spanish coach Pep Guardiola.
During the test, the players were divided into groups of 5 individuals, and they ran for 5 minutes in each stage, with the speed gradually increasing.
After each stage, specialists drew a small blood sample from the ear to measure the lactate level, while recording the heart rate.
The results were used to evaluate the physical capabilities of each player, and to provide recommendations to the body responsible for physical preparation regarding appropriate exercises for him.
Thus, the small bandages that appear on the ears of Bayern players are only a simple trace of a physical test that the club has been using for more than a decade to monitor the response of its players’ bodies to effort.