What are the Physiological Benefits of Altitude Training?
Mizuno {1990} reported a 6% increase in of the gastrocnemius muscle the buffering capacity elite male cross-country skiers who resided at 2100 m (6890 ft) and did their training at 2700 m (8860 ft) for 2 weeks.
Substantial improvements in their max O2 deficit (29 %) and treadmill exercise time to exhaustion ETE (17%) were found after the athletes returned to sea level. Additionally, a “+” correlation (r = 0.91, p < 0.05) was shown between the increase in buffering capacity of the gastro-cnemius muscle and treadmill run ETE.
Gore et al {2001} also reports that skeletal muscle buffer capacity improved 18% (p < 0.05) in male cyclists, triathletes, and cross-country skiers after 23 days of residing at altitude of 3000 m (9840 ft) and physical training at 600 m (1970 ft). Additionally, they found that athlete’s mechanical efficiency considerably improved during for- three – four 4-min submaximal cycling test after the 23-day ‘live high train low’ training period.
The exact mechanisms are unclear yet – what is responsible for improved skeletal muscle buffering capacity after high altitude training but may relate to changes in creatine phosphate and/or muscle protein content (Mizuno et al. 1990). Enhancements in blood buffering capacity may be becasue of the increases in bicarbonate (Nummela and Rusko 2000) or hemoglobin content.
Swim: for Triathletes
Bike: Training for Triathletes
Run: Technique for Triathletes
Plans and Strategies for Triathletes
