Effect of physical training at moderate altitude (1850 m) on hypoxic tolerance

Effect of systematic physical training at moderate altitude (1850 m) on hypoxic tolerance was estimated on a group of young soldiers, by determining the Time of Useful Consciousness (TUC) at a simulated altitude of 7620 m in a hypobaric chamber together with the Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF) test. The subjects, after initial testing at Delhi (near sea level) were taken to an altitude of 1850 m and divided into two groups. One group was given systematic endurance physical training for 8 weeks, while the other group served as control. The subjects were then taken to an altitude of 3500 m and kept at that altitude for 4 weeks, after which they were brought back to Delhi and TUC was estimated again within 2 d. The results indicate that endurance physical training at moderate altitude improved hypoxic tolerance and the central nervous system activity under hypoxia.