Exercise at Altitude

• Altitude is the height above sea level (ASL).
• At an altitude of 1500m ASL or higher a performer will notice altitude effects, and if they dont train to aclimitize they will underperform. 2400m ASL is the optimum altitude to train for acclimatization and 3 weeks is ideal for noticeable effect. Some athletes use altitude training to improve performance once they return sea level; although it needs to be well times as training benfits last approximately 14 days.
• At altitude the air still contains approximately 20.9% of oxygen, but the barometric pressure and thus the partial pressure of oxygen is reduces.
• At altitude performance drops in aerobic activities.
• At altitude performance could improve in anaerobic activities.
• Athletes can train at altitude to acclimatise, this is where they 'gradually adapt to a change in their environment (in this cas a lower PO2) to get ready for performing or competing at altitude'.
• At altitude more EPO is released, increased RBC/hb production, increased capillarisation at muscles and alveoli, decreased in altitude sickness.
• At 1500m ASL altitude starts to influence performance
• 2400m ASL is the optimum altitude to train for acclimisation
• Acclimatisation is the gradual adaptations, physically, to a change in the environment (lower PO2)
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the cardiovascular system is increased heart rate
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the cardiovascular system is a decreased maximal cardiac output
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the cardiovascular system is a decreased stroke volume
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the cardiovascular system is a decreas in plasma volume in blood
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the cardiovascular system is a decrease in O2 transport to muscle in blood
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the cardiovascular system is reduced haemoglobin saturation
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the respiratory system is an increase in breathing rate
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the respiratory system is an increased tidal volume
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the respiratory system is a decrease in oxygen diffusion from alveoli to capillary blood due to a smaller diffusion gradient
• An immediate short term effect of altitude on the respiratory system is a decrease in PO2 in inspired air entering alveoli
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because there is lower PO2 in atmosphere which means there is lower PO2 in the alveoli
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because there is a lower rate of O2 diffusion from the alveoli to capillary blood meaning there is a smaller pressure gradient
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because there is a decreased HbO2 saturation
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because there is a decreased O2 transport in blood to the working muscles
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because of a decreased O2 supply for aerobic energy production
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because of an increased breathing frequency and heart rate and a decreased stroke volume
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because of decreased maximal cardiac output
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because of an earlier onset of fatigue
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because of decreased VO2 max and lower intensity or duration of anaerobic performance
• Altitude exposure causes performance to deteriorate in aerobic activities and earlier onset of fatigue occurs because of possible altitude sickness
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is decreased altitude sickness
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increased release of EPO (hormone responsible for RBC production)
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increase in red blood cells which means more haemoglobin
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increased O2 carrying capacity of blood
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increased HbO2 concentration
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is increased O2 delivery to muscles
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increased buffering capacity which means the muscles are more able to manage lactic acid
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increased surface area of alveoli
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is an increased tidal volume and minute ventilation
• A physiological benefit of altitude training is increased capillarisation around alveoli and muscles