In order to study the physiologic adaptation during altitude training in elite athletes, changes of EPO, RBC, Hb, RC, Hct, testosterone (T), free-testosterone (FT), cortisol (C) and VO2max were investigated before, during and after 4 weeks (w) of altitude training (1917m) in 10 elite middle-long distance runners (ATG), compared with those of the sea-level training group (SLTG, n=9). The results and discussion were as follows: 1) the serum EPO concentration showed a decrease (-2.1%) after 1 w from sea-level to altitude, and much more decrease (-17.9%; P<0.01) after 4 w at altitude, but it rose again after 3w from altitude to sea-level and it also was lower than that before altitude training (P<0.01). RBC and Hb increased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.01) during EPO decreasing. It was suggested that to keep high EPO level is not necessary for increasing RBC and Hb concentration during altitude training. The change trend of RC was similar with that of EPO. Hct showed a little increase during and after altitude training. 2) The concentration of serum T(P>0.05), FT(P>0.05) and C(P<0.05) tended to decrease, but T/C was significantly(P<0.01) increased during and after altitude training in male. There was a different effect on serum hormone between male and female subjects during altitude training. 3) The change trend of EPO was similar with that of T and the change trend of RC was similar with that of T/C. 4) V O2max was improved after altitude training, but the increase of VO2max in ATG was not more than 10%, compared with SLTG. The increasing VO2max in altitude training was related to the increase of VE, VT and the improvement of the capacity of oxygen transport by blood, but was irrelevant to BF, HR, CO and pulmonary ventilation efficiency. It was concluded that: the physiologic function of ATG was improved when returning to sea-level after altitude training, and the improvement could be kept for at least 3 weeks after returning to sea-level.
© Copyright 1999 5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences with the Annual Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 1999. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.