Comparison of High Altitude and Sea Level Physical Performance and Various Blood Parameters of Elite Middle­Long Distance Runners Who Live at High Altitude

Year 1996, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 12 - 18, 15.02.1996

A. Vahit Doğar Kemal Tamer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare physical performance and some blood parameters at sea level and high altitude (1980 m) of 8 elite middle and long distance runners aged 17-26 who live at high altitude conditions. During the study, subjects trained for 10 days at altitude (Erzurum) and than for 10 days at sea level (İzmir). Erythrocytes, levukcytes., hemoglobin, hematocrit, resting heart rate, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures, aerobic power measurements of subjects were taken on 8 th training day at altitude and 1 st, 4th, 8th training days at sea level.

According to the results of altitude, decreases were observed in levels of blood parameters and scores of physiological measurements such as erythrocytes, levkoctytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate. In contrast to these parameters, the aerobic power (max V02 ) was increased.

The results indicated that although there were significant relationships of max V02 , with hemoglobin scores (r=0.652) and resting heart rate (r=-0.709) at high altitude; and max VO2 with leukocytes (r=0.707) and erythrocytes (r=-0.692, p<0.05) at sea levelt (1. day) There was no significant relationship between max V02 and other parameters (P> 0.05) at sea level (4. day). In addition, there was a significant relationship between max-V02 and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.660, P <0.05) at sea level (8. day).

Regression analysis of measurements showed that, max V 0 2 had significant effect on leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, resting systolicdiastolic blood pressures and resting heart rate values at altitute and sea level (P<0.01). 

Keywords

Performance at high altitude, performance at sea level, blood parameters

Yüksek İrtifada Yaşayan Elit Orta Uzun Mesafe Koşucularının Yüksek İrtifa ve Deniz Seviyesindeki Fiziksel Performansları ile Çeşitli Kan Parametrelerinin Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare physical performance and some
blood parameters at sea level and high altitude (1980 m) of 8 elite middle and
long distance runners aged 17-26 who live at high altitude conditions. During
the study, subjects trained for 10 days at altitude (Erzurum) and than for 10
days at sea level (İzmir). Erythrocytes, levukcytes., hemoglobin, hematocrit,
resting heart rate, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures, aerobic power
measurements of subjects were taken on 8 th training day at altitude and 1 st,
4th, 8th training days at sea level.

According to the results of altitude, decreases were observed in levels of blood
parameters and scores of physiological measurements such as erythrocytes,
levkoctytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, resting systolic and diastolic blood
pressure and resting heart rate. In contrast to these parameters, the aerobic power
(max V02 ) was increased.

The results indicated that although there were significant relationships of max
V02 , with hemoglobin scores (r=0.652) and resting heart rate (r=-0.709) at
high altitude; and max VO2 with leukocytes (r=0.707) and erythrocytes
(r=-0.692, p<0.05) at sea levelt (1. day) There was no significant relationship
between max V02 and other parameters (P> 0.05) at sea level (4. day). In addition,
there was a significant relationship between max-V02 and diastolic blood
pressure (r=0.660, P <0.05) at sea level (8. day).

Regression analysis of measurements showed that, max V 0 2 had significant
effect on leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, resting
systolicdiastolic blood pressures and resting heart rate values at altitute and sea level
(P<0.01). 

Keywords

Performance at high altitude, performance at sea level, blood parameters

References

• ASTRAND­ P.O. and RODAHL, K. Textbook of Work Physiology. Mc Graw­Hill Book CO.. 3. Edition, 684­707, Singapore, 1986.