Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Buoyancy and Stability for Submerged and Floating Bodies01:11

Buoyancy and Stability for Submerged and Floating Bodies

In fluid mechanics, buoyancy and stability are key concepts for understanding the behavior of submerged and floating bodies. When a stationary body is fully or partially submerged in a fluid, the fluid exerts a force on the body known as the buoyant force. This force acts vertically upward through a point called the center of buoyancy, which is the center of the displaced fluid volume. According to Archimedes' principle, the magnitude of the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid...
Alterations in Blood Pressure01:30

Alterations in Blood Pressure

Alterations in blood pressure, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and hypotension (low blood pressure), significantly affect human health. Understanding these conditions' classifications, causes, and symptoms is essential for effective management and treatment.
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart beats)...
Hypoxia01:23

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition characterized by an inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It typically manifests as a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosae, especially in fair-skinned individuals, when hemoglobin (Hb) saturation drops below 75%.
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation01:25

Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation refers to a higher-than-normal rate and depth of breathing, often associated with anxiety attacks. This excessive breathing surpasses the body's need to expel CO2, leading to a condition known as hypocapnia - an unusually low level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Hypocapnia can constrict cerebral blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which may result in dizziness or fainting. Early signs include tingling and muscle spasms in the hands and face, caused by falling...
Anatomical Positions01:11

Anatomical Positions

In anatomy, several standard anatomical positions are used as references for describing the position and orientation of different body parts. These positions help provide a common frame of reference when discussing anatomical structures. The anatomical position is the standard reference point for describing the body's position and orientation. In this position:
The body is upright, facing forward, and standing erect.
The feet are parallel and flat on the floor.
The arms are hanging by the...
Alterations in Respiration II01:30

Alterations in Respiration II

There are numerous types of normal and abnormal respiration. Based on ventilatory movements, breathing patterns are classified as regular, deep, or shallow. Examples include Biot's breathing, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Kussmaul's breathing, hyperventilation, and hypoventilation. Each pattern is clinically significant and aids in evaluating patients.
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Live high, train smart: translating altitude physiology to best practice with mechanistic insights.

Frontiers in physiology·2026
Same author

Impact of Tibetan Ancestry on Respiratory Control and Central Sleep Apnea in Hypoxia.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same author

Altitude-induced periodic breathing optimises respiratory efficiency during sleep in young healthy males.

Thorax·2026
Same author

Normative values for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the pediatric population - an updated systematic review.

European journal of preventive cardiology·2026
Same author

Carbon monoxide to 'simulate altitude': The ethical grenade.

Experimental physiology·2026
Same author

Physiological and performance parameters associated with critical power decline in hypoxia among highly-trained endurance athletes.

Biology of sport·2026
Same journal

Erythrocytapheresis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in High-Altitude Migrants with Chronic Mountain Sickness: A Single-Arm Before-After Trial at 4,000-4,500 m.

High altitude medicine & biology·2026
Same journal

Health Promotion for Sun Protection: A Community Approach in a Mountain Setting.

High altitude medicine & biology·2026
Same journal

<i>Letter:</i> The Experience of Health Care Providers Working At High Altitude.

High altitude medicine & biology·2026
Same journal

<i>Letter:</i> Beyond Altitude-Referral Filters and Diagnostic Gaps in Young Stroke.

High altitude medicine & biology·2026
Same journal

Mitigating Intraoperative Fatigue in Surgeons at High Altitude: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.

High altitude medicine & biology·2026
Same journal

Exercise-Induced Autonomic and Cardio-Respiratory Stress at High Altitude in Leisure Athletes.

High altitude medicine & biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Tilt Testing with Combined Lower Body Negative Pressure: a "Gold Standard" for Measuring Orthostatic Tolerance
14:09

Tilt Testing with Combined Lower Body Negative Pressure: a "Gold Standard" for Measuring Orthostatic Tolerance

Published on: March 21, 2013

Hypobaric versus normobaric hypoxia: same effects on postural stability?

Francis Degache1, Gabriele Larghi, Raphael Faiss

  • 1Institute of Sport Sciences (ISSUL), Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. francis.degache@unil.ch

High Altitude Medicine & Biology
|March 21, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hypobaric hypoxia significantly impairs postural stability more than normobaric hypoxia. This suggests that reduced barometric pressure, not just low oxygen, affects balance at altitude.

More Related Videos

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Tilt Testing with Combined Lower Body Negative Pressure: a "Gold Standard" for Measuring Orthostatic Tolerance
14:09

Tilt Testing with Combined Lower Body Negative Pressure: a "Gold Standard" for Measuring Orthostatic Tolerance

Published on: March 21, 2013

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Physiology
  • Human Performance
  • Altitude Medicine

Background:

  • Altitude exposure can impair postural stability.
  • The specific roles of hypoxia and hypobaria in this impairment are not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH) on postural stability.
  • To determine whether hypobaria or hypoxia is the primary driver of balance disturbances at altitude.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve subjects underwent posturographic testing under three conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, and dual task.
  • Postural stability was assessed in hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH) conditions matched for ambient oxygen pressure at simulated altitudes of 1700m and 3000m.

Main Results:

  • Hypobaric hypoxia (HH) significantly increased the length of the Centre of Pressure (CoP) trajectory in the antero-posterior plane compared to normobaric hypoxia (NH) for eyes open, eyes closed, and dual-task conditions.
  • HH also decreased the variance of CoP speed at 1700m and increased the CoP trajectory surface at 3000m (eyes open and closed) compared to normobaric normoxia (NN).
  • No significant differences in postural stability were found between normobaric hypoxia (NH) and normobaric normoxia (NN).

Conclusions:

  • Hypobaric hypoxia, not hypoxia alone, significantly deteriorates postural stability.
  • Hypobaria plays a crucial role in the balance impairments observed at altitude.
  • These findings highlight the importance of barometric pressure in maintaining postural control during environmental stress.