title: Effects of exercise training at 1,500 m on arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate.
abstract: We compared the effects of exercise training at a low (610 m) altitude with those at moderate (1,500 m) altitude on arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and pulse rate (PR) between two groups of men: five subjects in the low altitude group (LG), and five other subjects in the moderate-altitude group (MG), after giving them a series of bicycle training in a hypobaric chamber. Training intensity was 75% HRmax for 60 min/day, 3 times per week for 5 weeks. Before and after the training, Sao2 and PR were measured with a pulse oximeter during step-tests under various air pressures, corresponding to 610 m, 2,000 m, and 4,000 m, respectively, in the chamber. We found that: 1) Sao2 during the step-test carried out at 2,000 m and 4,000 m in the hypobaric chamber was significantly increased in MG compared with that in LG; and 2) PR during the step-tests at 610 m, 2,000 m, and 4,000 m was significantly decreased in MG compared with that in LG. Thus, we conclude that exercise training at a moderate altitude is a useful method for increasing Sao2 and decreasing PR and may prevent mountain sickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanagidaira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeoka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kashimura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terasawa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011674:Pulse
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen