Altitude & performance: what's new?
"Live High-Train Low and High" Hypoxic Training Improves Team-Sport Performance.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
To investigate physical performance and hematological changes in 32 elite male team-sport players after 14 days of 'live high-train low' (LHTL) in normobaric hypoxia (≥14 h.day at 2800-3000 m) combined with repeated-sprint training (6 sessions of 4 sets of 5 x 5-s sprints with 25 s of passive recovery) either in normobaric hypoxia at 3000 m (LHTL+RSH, namely LHTLH; n = 11) or in normoxia (LHTL+RSN, namely LHTL; n = 12) compared to controlled 'live low-train low' (LLTL; n = 9).
METHODS:
Prior to (Pre-), immediately (Post-1) and 3 weeks (Post-2) after the intervention, hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) was measured in duplicate (optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method) and vertical jump, repeated-sprint (8 x 20 m - 20 s recovery) and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 2 (YYIR2) performances were tested.
RESULTS:
Both hypoxic groups increased similarly Hbmass at Post-1 and Post-2 in reference to Pre- (LHTLH: +4.0%, P<0.001 and +2.7%, P<0.01; LHTL: +3.0% and +3.0%, both P<0.001), while no change occurred in LLTL. Compared to Pre-, YYIR2 performance increased by ∼21% at Post-1 (P<0.01) and by ∼45% at Post-2 (P<0.001) with no difference between the two intervention groups (vs. no change in LLTL). From Pre- to Post-1 cumulated sprint time decreased in LHTLH (-3.6%, P<0.001) and in LHTL (-1.9%, P<0.01), but not in LLTL (-0.7%), and remained significantly reduced at Post-2 (-3.5% P<0.001) in LHTLH only. Vertical jump performance did not change.
CONCLUSION:
'Live high-train low and high' hypoxic training interspersed with repeated sprints in hypoxia for 14 days (in-season) increases Hbmass, YYIR2 performance and repeated-sprint ability of elite field team-sport players with the benefits lasting for at least three weeks post-intervention.
Altitude Training in Elite Swimmers for Sea Level Performance (Altitude Project).
INTRODUCTION:
This controlled nonrandomized parallel groups trial investigated the effects on performance, V˙o2 and hemoglobin mass (tHbmass) of 4 preparatory in-season training interventions: living and training at moderate altitude for 3 and 4 weeks (Hi-Hi3, Hi-Hi), living high and training high and low (Hi-HiLo, 4 weeks), and living and training at sea level (SL) (Lo-Lo, 4 weeks).
METHODS:
From 61 elite swimmers, 54 met all inclusion criteria and completed time trials over 50 and 400 m crawl (TT50, TT400), and 100 (sprinters) or 200 m (non-sprinters) at best stroke (TT100/TT200). V˙o2max and heart rate were measured with an incremental 4x200-m test. Training load was estimated using TRIMPc and session RPE. Initial measures (PRE) were repeated immediately (POST) and once weekly on return to SL (PostW1 to PostW4). tHbmass was measured in duplicate at PRE and once weekly during the camp with CO rebreathing. Effects were analyzed using mixed linear modeling.
RESULTS:
TT100 or TT200 was worse or unchanged immediately POST, but improved by ∼3.5% regardless of living or training at SL or altitude following at least 1 week of sea level recovery. Hi-HiLo achieved a greater improvement two (5.3%) and four weeks (6.3%) after the camp. Hi-HiLo also improved more in TT400 and TT50 two (4.2% and 5.2%, respectively) and four weeks (4.7% and 5.5%) from return. This performance improvement was not linked linearly to changes in V˙o2max or tHbmass.
CONCLUSION:
A well- implemented 3- or 4-week training camp may impair performance immediately, but clearly improves performance even in elite swimmers after a period of SL recovery. Hi-HiLo for 4 weeks improves performance in swimming above and beyond altitude and SL controls, through complex mechanisms involving altitude living and SL training effects.
Effects of Altitude on Performance of Elite Track-and-Field Athletes.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Lower barometric pressure of air at altitude can affect competitive performance of athletes in some sports. Here we report the effects of various altitudes on elite track-and-field athlete's performance.
METHODS:
Lifetime track-and-field performances of athletes placed in the top 16 in at least one major international competition between 2000 and 2009 were downloaded from the database at tilastopaja.org. There were 132,104 performances of 1889 athletes at 794 venues. Performances were log-transformed and analyzed using a mixed linear model with fixed effects for 6 levels of altitude and random quadratic effects to adjust for athlete's age.
RESULTS:
Men's and women's sprint events (100-400 m) showed marginal improvements of ~0.2% at altitudes of 500-999 m, and above 1500 m all but the 100-and 110-m hurdles showed substantial improvements of 0.3-0.7%. Some middle- and long-distance events (800-10,000 m) showed marginal impairments at altitudes above 150 m, but above 1000 m the impairments increased dramatically to ~2-4% for events >800 m. There was no consistent trend in the effects of altitude on field events up to 1000 m; above 1000 m hammer throw showed a marginal improvement of ~1%, and discus was impaired by 1-2%. Above 1500 m, triple jump and long jump showed marginal improvements of ~1%.
CONCLUSIONS:
In middle-and long-distance runners altitudes as low as 150-299 m can impair performance. Higher altitudes (≥ 1000 m) are generally required before decreases in discus performance, or enhancements in sprinting, triple-and long-jump, or hammer throw are seen.
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