Related Experiment Videos
Improving athletic performance: is altitude residence or altitude training helpful?
C S Fulco1, P B Rock, A Cymerman
1Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA 01760-5007, USA. cfulco@natick-ccmail.army.mil
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|February 24, 2000
Summary
Altitude training can enhance exercise performance. The most effective strategy for improving sea level performance involves living at high altitude and training at lower altitudes to balance physiological adaptation and high-intensity workouts.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Altitude Training
Background:
- Altitude exposure induces physiological, ventilatory, hematological, and metabolic changes.
- These adaptations theoretically enhance endurance exercise performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies on altitude training efficacy for sea level and altitude performance.
- To evaluate different altitude training strategies.
Main Methods:
- Critical review of exercise training studies at various altitudes (1250-5700 m) and durations (30 min to 19 wk).
- Analysis of four distinct training strategies: training/residing at altitude, training at altitude/residing at sea level, training low/residing high, and combined sea level/altitude training post-acclimatization.
Main Results:
- While altitude enhances performance at altitude, evidence for improved sea level performance from residing and training at altitude is limited.
- Some evidence suggests training at altitude while residing at sea level may benefit sea level performance.
- The 'live high, train low' strategy shows growing support for improving sea level exercise performance in trained athletes.
Conclusions:
- The 'live high, train low' approach, combining altitude acclimatization with high-intensity lower altitude training, is increasingly recognized as optimal.
- This strategy aims to maximize physiological benefits while maintaining training intensity for improved sea level performance.