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Department of Health and Exercise Science

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/100447
These digital collections include theses, dissertations, and faculty publications from the Department of Health and Exercise Science. Due to departmental name changes, materials from the following historical department is also included here: Physical Education.

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Browsing Department of Health and Exercise Science by Subject "acclimatization"

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    A single high-altitude training bout improves high-altitude aerobic performance following one week of low altitude training
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Andersen, Brady Dean, author; Chicco, Adam J., advisor; Hickey, Matthew Sean, committee member; Gotshall, Robert William, 1945-, committee member; Turk, Daniel E. (Daniel Ernest), 1961-, committee member
    Consecutive bouts of aerobic exercise at high-altitude are known to improve subsequent aerobic exercise performance at high altitude due to a variety of acute and chronic adaptations referred to as altitude acclimatization. However, it is unclear whether these benefits can be elicited by a single bout of high-altitude exercise followed by several days of training at lower altitude. PURPOSE: We investigated whether a single bout of hill running exercise performed at high-altitude improves running performance, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), hematocrit (HCT) and perceived exertion (RPE) during a strenuous timed run at high-altitude performed 1 week following the training stimulus. METHODS: Participants were well-trained competitive runners (VO2 max 52 ± 5 ml/kg/min, aged 42 ± 14 yrs, n = 8) living in Fort Collins, CO (5,003 ft) that were naïve to higher altitudes for at least 8 weeks. All were training regularly (66 ± 3 miles/wk) and refrained from any non-prescribed altitude exposure for the duration of the study. Baseline testing consisted of a timed run on the Mt. Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado (11.5 miles at 11,500-14,100 ft) followed by one week of training in Fort Collins. Runners were then randomized to perform a 12 mile hill running workout in Fort Collins (LOW; 5,550-7,170 ft, n = 4) or Mt. Evans (HIGH; 12,750-14,100 ft, n = 4). All runners then engaged in 1 week of routine training in Fort Collins followed by a post-test run at Mt. Evans that was identical to the baseline test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in run-time from pre to post-test for either group. Pre-run (11,500 ft) percent change in SaO2 was significantly different between groups (+3.70 ± 2.95% in High; -3.95 ± 1.62% in Low, P = 0.029). The high group experienced a 4.01 ± 2.72% mean increase in exercising SaO2 from pre to post-test, while the Low group decreased 1.21 ± 1.41% from pre to post-test (P = 0.029). In addition, the High group experience a 8.45 ± 8.13% increase in recovery SaO2 from pre to post-test at an elevation of 14,100 feet, while the Low group had a 2.21 ± 2.82% decrease in recovery SaO2 from pre to post-test at an elevation of 14,100 feet (P = 0.057) . HCT increased from pre post-test to post post-test in the Low group only (43.55 ± 1.04% & 45.67 ± 0.79% respectively; P = 0.68). There were no differences in HR or RPE within or between High and Low groups. CONCLUSION: A single high-altitude training bout prior to 1 week of low-altitude training improves subsequent aerobic performance and arterial O2 saturation at high-altitude, while a single bout performed 2 weeks prior to testing is ineffective.