Athletes at High Altitude

Overview

Journal Sports Health

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2016 Feb 12

PMID 26863894

Citations 34

Authors

Morteza Khodaee

Heather L Grothe

Jonathan H Seyfert

Karin VanBaak

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Context: Athletes at different skill levels perform strenuous physical activity at high altitude for a variety of reasons. Multiple team and endurance events are held at high altitude and may place athletes at increased risk for developing acute high altitude illness (AHAI). Training at high altitude has been a routine part of preparation for some of the high level athletes for a long time. There is a general belief that altitude training improves athletic performance for competitive and recreational athletes.

Evidence Acquisition: A review of relevant publications between 1980 and 2015 was completed using PubMed and Google Scholar.

Study Design: Clinical review.

Level Of Evidence: Level 3.

Results: AHAI is a relatively uncommon and potentially serious condition among travelers to altitudes above 2500 m. The broad term AHAI includes several syndromes such as acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Athletes may be at higher risk for developing AHAI due to faster ascent and more vigorous exertion compared with nonathletes. Evidence regarding the effects of altitude training on athletic performance is weak. The natural live high, train low altitude training strategy may provide the best protocol for enhancing endurance performance in elite and subelite athletes. High altitude sports are generally safe for recreational athletes, but they should be aware of their individual risks.

Conclusion: Individualized and appropriate acclimatization is an essential component of injury and illness prevention.

Citing Articles

Effects of Environmental Conditions on Athlete's Cardiovascular System.

Segreti A, Celeski M, Guerra E, Crispino S, Vespasiano F, Buzzelli L J Clin Med. 2024; 13(16).

PMID: 39201103 PMC: 11355938. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13164961.

Examining the Effects of Altitude on Workload Demands in Professional Basketball Players during the Preseason Phase.

Ibanez S, Gomez-Carmona C, Gonzalez-Espinosa S, Mancha-Triguero D Sensors (Basel). 2024; 24(10).

PMID: 38794099 PMC: 11125985. DOI: 10.3390/s24103245.

Evaluation of cardiac index and right ventricular hypertrophy index in rats under a chronic hypoxic environment at high altitude.

Sun Y, Ma J, Yan T, Tian D, Zhang C, Zhang F Heliyon. 2024; 10(3):e25229.

PMID: 38333787 PMC: 10850543. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25229.

The Effect of Contrast Water Therapy on Dehydration during Endurance Training Camps in Moderate-Altitude Environments.

Inami T, Yamaguchi S, Nishioka T, Chida K, Hoshina K, Ito O Sports (Basel). 2023; 11(12).

PMID: 38133099 PMC: 10747241. DOI: 10.3390/sports11120232.

Anaerobic threshold using sweat lactate sensor under hypoxia.

Okawara H, Iwasawa Y, Sawada T, Sugai K, Daigo K, Seki Y Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):22865.

PMID: 38129473 PMC: 10739691. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49369-7.

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