Exercise Physiology: Altitude

What is a benefit of the effects of altitude training?

• Additional red blood cells are an advantage to performers when they return to sea level to compete as it increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood

• Additional white blood cells are an advantage to performers when they return to sea level to compete as it increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood

• Less red blood cells are an advantage to performers when they return to sea level to compete as it ensure blood is less visocus

• Athletes can train at a higher intensity at altitude and therefore get more training benefits when training is done at altitude.

MULTIPLE ANSWERS: Which is NOT a negative of altitude training?

• It can be expensive to travel to high altitude

• Fitness can be lost as it is difficult to work at same intensity at high altitude

• Athletes often suffer from altitude sickness which is caused by a constant shortage of oxygen (state known as hypoxia)

• Altitude stimulates a range of physiological adaptations which enhances the capacity of the aerobic system

Who would undergo an altitude training program?

• Sprinter

• Shotputter

• Diver

• Triathlete

Altitude training has a long term benefit on which energy system

• ATP-CP System

• Lactic Acid System

• Aerobic System

• Anaerobic Systems

Athletes embark on altitude training to stimulate a number of physiological adaptations, these include (multiple answers)

• An increased number of White Blood Cells so a greater amount of O2 can be carried by the individual white blood cells

• An increase in mitochondria numbers so the body can more efficiently respire aerobically

• An increase in the number of capillaries around skeletal muscle to ensure more O2 can be delivered and more CO2 can be removed.

• An increase in Haemoglobin content so a greater amount of O2 can be carried by the individual red blood cells.

In reference to different altitude training regimes, which statement is FALSE?

• Live (sleep) high train low is the best and most recommended form of altitude training

• Live (sleep) low and train high is useful for developing adaptations to enhance the body's capacity to transport and use oxygen

• Hypoxic chambers are effective for acclimatising to altitude and developing adaptations similar to these at altitude

• Live (sleep) high, train high is generally only recommended for competitions which occur at altitude for an extended period of time (EG. soccer tournament)

At altitude it is difficult for people to get oxygen to move (diffuse) from the lungs into then blood vessels which surround the lungs. This is because

• There is a large difference in the amount of oxygen in the alveoli (lungs) compared to the blood

• There is only small difference in the amount of oxygen in the alveoli (lungs) compared to the blood

• Increased altitude results increasing the barometric pressure which means oxygen does not diffuse into the lungs as easily

• A build up of carbon dioxide in the lungs prevents Oxygen from diffusing across the alveoli

100 m athletes tend to perform better at altitude. This is because:

• Decreased air pressure at altitude results in there being less resistance in the air and therefor less drag impacting on the athletes.

• Increased air pressure at altitude results in there being less resistance in the air and less drag impacting on the athletes.

• Decreased air pressure at altitude results in there being more resistance in the air and more drag impacting on the athletes.

• 100m runners utilise the anaerobic system to produce ATP which is not affected at altitude.

Athletes undertake altitude training to stimulate (multiple correct answers)

• Increased myoglobin concentration

• Increased Aerobic Enzymes

• Increased blood viscosity

• Decreased stroke volume

At altitude there is

• decreased air pressure which primarily affects the production of ATP when it is produced by the aerobic system

• increased air pressure which primarily affects the production of ATP when it is produced by the aerobic system

• decreased air pressure which primarily affects the production of ATP when it is produced by the ATP-CP system

• decreased air pressure which primarily affects the production of ATP when it is produced by the Lactic Acid system