Force-velocity and 30-s Wingate tests in boys at high and low altitudes.
The effects of high altitude (HA, 3,700 m) on performance during a force-velocity test (maximal anaerobic power, MAnP) and a 30-s Wingate test (mean power, P) were studied in boys 7-15 yr of age. Forty-seven children acclimatized to HA were compared with 101 living at low altitude (LA, 330 m). They had the same good nutritional status and the same level of physical activities [average 5.4 +/- 1.1 (SD) and 5.2 +/- 1.9 h/wk at HA and LA, respectively]. They performed the two tests using the same calibrated cycle ergometer. For the Wingate test, O2 uptake (VO2) during the 30 s and the peak of blood lactate concentration ([L]p) during the recovery were also measured. No difference in MAnP was observed between HA and LA. P, [L]p, and VO2 were lower at HA. This suggests that the altitude of 3,700 m did not affect the performance of the force-velocity test but reduced that of the Wingate test. This decrease in P was linked to a lower participation of glycolysis and aerobic metabolism. The latter is related to a reduced aerobic performance at HA. In addition, the slopes of the relationships between age and MAnP, P, and [L]p were the same at HA and LA, indicating that chronic hypoxia did not alter the development of the anaerobic metabolism during puberty.
Bedu
M
M
Laboratoire de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Fellmann
N
N
Spielvogel
H
H
Falgairette
G
G
Van Praagh
E
E
Coudert
J
J
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000332:Aerobiosis; D000531:Altitude; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology