Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the percentage of the increase in whole body maximal oxygen consumption (\( \dot{V} \)O2max) that is accounted for by increased respiratory muscle oxygen uptake after altitude training. Six elite male distance runners (\( \dot{V} \)O2max = 70.6 ± 4.5 ml kg−1 min−1) and one elite female distance runner (\( \dot{V} \)O2max = 64.7 ml kg−1 min−1) completed a 28-day “live high–train low” training intervention (living elevation, 2,150 m). Before and after altitude training, subjects ran at three submaximal speeds, and during a separate session, performed a graded exercise test to exhaustion. A regression equation derived from published data was used to estimate respiratory muscle \( \dot{V} \)O2 (\( \dot{V} \)O2RM) using our ventilation (\( \dot{V} \) E) values. \( \dot{V} \)O2RM was also estimated retrospectively from a larger group of distance runners (n = 22). \( \dot{V} \)O2max significantly (p < 0.05) increased from pre- to post-altitude (196 ± 59 ml min−1), while \( \dot{V} \) E at \( \dot{V} \)O2max also significantly (p < 0.05) increased (13.3 ± 5.3 l min−1). The estimated \( \dot{V} \)O2RM contributed 37 % of Δ\( \dot{V} \)O2max. The retrospective group also saw a significant increase in \( \dot{V} \)O2max from pre- to post-altitude (201 ± 36 ml min−1), along with a 10.8 ± 2.1 l min−1 increase in \( \dot{V} \) E, thus requiring an estimated 27 % of Δ\( \dot{V} \)O2max. Our data suggest that a substantial portion of the improvement in \( \dot{V} \)O2max with chronic altitude training goes to fuel the respiratory muscles as opposed to the musculature which directly contributes to locomotion. Consequently, the time-course of decay in ventilatory acclimatization following return to sea-level may have an impact on competitive performance.
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This study was supported by a grant from the AAU/Bell-Updyke-Willett Kinesiology Research Fund, Indiana University School of HPER.
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None of the authors of this article has any conflicts of interest or financial conflicts to report.
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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.
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Wilhite, D.P., Mickleborough, T.D., Laymon, A.S. et al. Increases in \( \dot{V} \)O2max with “live high–train low” altitude training: role of ventilatory acclimatization. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 419–426 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2443-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2443-4