Does 'altitude training' increase exercise performance in elite athletes?
The general practice of altitude training is widely accepted as a means to enhance sport performance despite a lack of rigorous scientific studies. For example, the scientific gold-standard design of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial has never been conducted on altitude training. Given that few studies have utilised appropriate controls, there should be more scepticism concerning the effects of altitude training methodologies. In this brief review we aim to point out weaknesses in theories and methodologies of the various altitude training paradigms and to highlight the few well-designed studies to give athletes, coaches and sports medicine professionals the current scientific state of knowledge on common forms of altitude training. Another aim is to encourage investigators to design well-controlled studies that will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms and potential benefits of altitude training.
Center for Integrative Human Physiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 - Zürich, Switzerland. carsten.lundby@access.uzh.ch
Carsten
C
Lundby
Gregoire P
GP
Millet
Jose A
JA
Calbet
Peter
P
Bärtsch
Andrew W
AW
Subudhi
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000531:Altitude; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology
D006454:Hemoglobins