Effectiveness of preacclimatization strategies for high-altitude exposure.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) and large decrements in endurance exercise performance occur when unacclimatized individuals rapidly ascend to high altitudes. Six altitude and hypoxia preacclimatization strategies were evaluated to determine their effectiveness for minimizing AMS and improving performance during altitude exposures. Strategies using hypobaric chambers or true altitude were much more effective overall than those using normobaric hypoxia (breathing, <20.9% oxygen).
Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA 01760, USA. charles.fulco@us.army.mil
Charles S
CS
Fulco
Beth A
BA
Beidleman
Stephen R
SR
Muza
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome