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Lauren Calver

Professor Russel

KINE 3393-01

November 29, 2018

Sea level & High Altitude Comparison

Living at high altitudes exposes an individual to the decrease in the oxygen partial pressure at an

exponential rate, the increase of altitude and the resulting hypoxic conditions can lead to

cognitive and physical alterations caused by a decreased oxygen intake. This article compared

the rate of perceived exertion for respiratory and leg muscles, using a 10 point Borg scale. For

this experiment, the researcher used 10 healthy male subjects during an incremental cycle

exercise at sea level and then at a high altitude. The researchers wanted to determine whether

hypoxia exposures alter the relative contribution of a limb as opposed to respiratory muscles

perceived a sensation of effort as limiting the exercise intensity. The main finding of this study

was that during incremental exercise RPE,resp scaled uniquely with the power output of the

respiratory muscles, regardless of differences in air density and hypoxic drive. RPE, legs for any

given level of power output of the corresponding muscle group was exacerbated by high altitude

exposure as compared to the sea level.

This article is extremely relevant as it covers what happens to your body when exposed to

high altitudes and training in these conditions, we talked a lot about this in class in particularly

the live high train low concept. In class we learned that the higher altitude and the higher

duration activities that place demands on oxygen transport and uptake by tissues are the are those

that are most severely affected by the hypoxic conditions at altitude. This article also shows the

differences between the athlete’s performance at sea level compared to performance at altitude.
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I really enjoyed this enjoyed this article it was very detailed and included graphs to make

the results clear especially when it came to comparing ventilation rates between sea level and

altitude. I believe the testing was very accurate especially because it took into consideration the

subjects height, weight and fitness levels to make the testing fair and accurate. It was very clear

in the graphs that everything done at sea level was better performed then at altitude. The results

of this testing were accurate to what I learned in class this semester, in the fact that the athlete’s

ventilation rate increased, heart rate increased, a decrease in stroke volume increased cardiac

output, increased Vo2, increased lactate production and decreased blood pH. These are all the

effects of what happens to athletes when exercising at altitude and the effects of acute hypoxia at

submaximal exercise intensity. However, I do not believe that this information in the article is

for the general public as it is not easy to understand as it abbreviates a lot of terms and presents

the material scattered and in a smaller font so I don’t believe everyone would enjoy or

understand this article as well as I could comprehend. The only real clear thing in this article was

the graphing between altitude and sea level vo2 differences and power output.

Link: https://ac.els-cdn.com/S1569904811000966/1-s2.0-S1569904811000966-

main.pdf?_tid=cc8124b1-ef04-46eb-b9e0-

d292f67cdd04&acdnat=1543413173_e563b46579f0cbe3f94d46486210f5f0

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