An Investigation Study on Physiological and Performance Effects of Altitude Training in Elite Athletes.

Author(s)

Maryam Karimian ,

Download Full PDF Pages: 21-28 | Views: 362 | Downloads: 120 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3457661

Volume 3 - August 2014 (08)

Abstract

Despite widespread popularity of altitude training with athletes and coaches, and extensive research over the last 50 years, the transfer of improvements in physiological capacities to competitive performance remains uncertain. This research quantified the magnitude of performance gains required to improve placing in international competition, and the performance enhancements and physiological adaptations that can be obtained from altitude training and exposure in elite swimmers and runners. Performance was quantified by a novel analysis of the relationships between lap time and performance, which combined betweenathlete correlations and within-athlete effects. Overall, the final lap for 100-m events and the middle two laps for 200-m and 400- m events had the strongest relationship (r~0.7-0.9) with final time. A change in these laps was associated with ~0.4-0.8% improvement in final time for finalists, and ~0.5-1.1% for semifinalists, depending on sex, stroke and event. However, a similar pattern of lap times was adopted in each event regardless of the sex, finish position, or the best and worst swims for an individual. To gain a competitive advantage, many athletes employ some form of altitude training in an attempt to elicit small enhancements in performance.

Keywords

Physiological, Performance Effects, Altitude Training, Elite Athletes

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