Reproducibility of performance changes to simulated live high/train low altitude

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Robertson, Eileen, Saunders, Philo, Pyne, David, Aughey, Robert ORCID: 0000-0002-0285-8516, Anson, Judith and Gore, Christopher J (2010) Reproducibility of performance changes to simulated live high/train low altitude. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise , 42 (2). pp. 394-401. ISSN 0195-9131 (print) 1530-0315 (online)

Abstract

Elite athletes often undertake multiple altitude exposures within and between training years in an attempt to improve sea level performance. Purpose: To quantify the reproducibility of responses to live high/train low (LHTL) altitude exposure in the same group of athletes. Methods: Sixteen highly trained runners with maximal aerobic power (V˙O2max) of 73.1 ± 4.6 and 64.4 ± 3.2 mL·kg−1·min−1 (mean ± SD) for males and females, respectively, completed 2 × 3-wk blocks of simulated LHTL (14 h·d−1, 3000 m) or resided near sea level (600 m) in a controlled study design. Changes in the 4.5-km time trial performance and physiological measures including V˙O2max, running economy and hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) were assessed. Results: Time trial performance showed small and variable changes after each 3-wk altitude block in both the LHTL (mean [±90% confidence limits]: −1.4% [±1.1%] and 0.7% [±1.3%]) and the control (0.5% [±1.5%] and −0.7% [±0.8%]) groups. The LHTL group demonstrated reproducible improvements in V˙O2max (2.1% [±2.1%] and 2.1% [±3.9%]) and Hbmass (2.8% [±2.1%] and 2.7% [±1.8%]) after each 3-wk block. Compared with those in the control group, the runners in the LHTL group were substantially faster after the first 3-wk block (LHTL − control = −1.9% [±1.8%]) and had substantially higher Hbmass after the second 3-wk block (4.2% [±2.1%]). There was no substantial difference in the change in mean V˙O2max between the groups after the first (1.2% [±3.3%]) or second 3-wk block (1.4% [±4.6%]). Conclusions: Three-week LHTL altitude exposure can induce reproducible mean improvements in V˙O2max and Hbmass in highly trained runners, but changes in time trial performance seem to be more variable. Competitive performance is dependent not only on improvements in physiological capacities that underpin performance but also on a complex interaction of many factors including fitness, fatigue, and motivation.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/7245
DOI 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181b34b57
Subjects Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL)
Historical > FOR Classification > 1106 Human Movement and Sports Science
Historical > SEO Classification > 970111 Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences
Keywords ResPubID20373, hemoglobin mass, normobaric hypoxia, maximum aerobic power, repeated exposure, runners
Citations in Scopus 79 - View on Scopus
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