Low- and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves the physiological acclimatization of lowlanders on the Tibetan plateau.
Eur J Sport Sci
; 24(6): 834-845, 2024 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38874991
ABSTRACT
This study investigates whether exercise as a strategy for improving physical fitness at sea level also offers comparable benefits in the unique context of high altitudes (HA), considering the physiological challenges of hypoxic conditions. Overall, 121 lowlanders who had lived on the Tibetan Plateau for >2 years and were still living at HA during the measurements were randomly classified into four groups. Each individual of the low-intensity (LI), moderate-intensity (MI), and high-intensity (HI) groups performed 20 sessions of aerobic exercise at HA (3680 m) over 4 weeks, while the control group (CG) did not undergo any intervention. Physiological responses before and after the intervention were observed. The LI and MI groups experienced significant improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness (0.27 and 0.35 L/min increases in peak oxygen uptake [ V Ë $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$ O2peak], both p < 0.05) after exercise intervention, while the hematocrit (HCT) remained unchanged (p > 0.05). However, HI exercise was less efficient for cardiopulmonary fitness of lowlanders (0.02 L/min decrease in V Ë $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$ O2peak, p > 0.05), whereas both the HCT (1.74 %, p < 0.001) and glomerular filtration rate (18.41 mL/min, p < 0.001) increased with HI intervention. Therefore, LI and MI aerobic exercise, rather than HI, can help lowlanders in Tibet become more acclimated to the HA by increasing cardiopulmonary function and counteracting erythrocytosis.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Oxygen Consumption
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Exercise
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Altitude
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Cardiorespiratory Fitness
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Acclimatization
Limits:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
EJSS (Champaign, Ill.)
/
Eur J Sport Sci
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article