High‐level performances following low altitude training and tapering in warm environments in elite racewalkers
Détails
Etat: Public
Version: Final published version
Licence: CC BY 4.0
ID Serval
serval:BIB_1B5902AA5BB1
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
High‐level performances following low altitude training and tapering in warm environments in elite racewalkers
Périodique
European Journal of Sport Science
ISSN
1746-1391
1536-7290
1536-7290
ISSN-L
1536-7290
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
08/2024
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
24
Numéro
8
Pages
1120-1129
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Current guidelines for prolonged altitude exposure suggest altitude levels ranging from 2000 to 2500 m to optimize an increase in total hemoglobin mass (Hbmass). However, natural low altitude locations (<2000 m) remain popular, highlighting the interest to investigate any possible benefit of low altitude camps for endurance athletes. Ten elite racewalkers (4 women and 6 men) underwent a 4-week "live high-train high" (LHTH) camp at an altitude of 1720 m (P <sub>I</sub> O <sub>2</sub> = 121 mmHg; 20.1°C; 67% relative humidity [RH]), followed by a 3-week tapering phase (20 m; P <sub>I</sub> O <sub>2</sub> = 150 mmHg; 28.3°C; 53% RH) in preparation for the World Athletics Championships (WC). Venous blood samples were withdrawn weekly during the entire observation period. In addition, blood volumes were determined weekly by carbon monoxide rebreathing during altitude exposure and 2 weeks after return to sea level. High-level performances were achieved at the WC (five placings among the Top 10 WC races and three all-time career personal bests). A slight but significant increase in absolute (+1.7%, p = 0.03) and relative Hbmass (+2.3%, p = 0.02) was observed after 4-week LHTH. In addition, as usually observed during LHTH protocols, weekly training distance (+28%, p = 0.02) and duration (+30%, p = 0.04) significantly increased during altitude compared to the pre-LHTH period. Therefore, although direct causation cannot be inferred, these results suggest that the combination of increased training load at low altitudes with a subsequent tapering period in a warm environment is a suitable competition-preparation strategy for elite endurance athletes.
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Oui
Création de la notice
19/07/2024 8:45
Dernière modification de la notice
13/08/2024 7:48