[Performance testing in mountaineering]. / Leistungsdiagnostik im Bergsport.

ABSTRACT

Laboratory ergometry to exhaustion allows cardiopulmonal risk assessment for the prevention of health problems related to mountaineering. Moreover, exercise testing evaluates functional status, so permitting individualized training programs and evaluation of training effects. Additionally, mountaineering-specific performance diagnosis allows individual as well as group-specific determination of exercise performance related to field conditions. Laboratory tests are standardized, easy to perform and cost effective. Treadmill ergometry with constant walking speed and increasing inclination is suggested to be predictive for mountaineering performance. On the other hand, the validity for the specific conditions for mountaineering is questionable. Standardized laboratory exercise tests combined with sport-specific exercise tests provide rough information on the ability to sustain real-situation strain. To compare individual exercise performance, published data tables obtained from field tests may be used. It must, however, be mentioned that high-altitude-adaptation is independent of exercise performance evaluated separately.