Training at moderate altitude improves submaximal but not maximal performance-related parameters in elite rowers

Hugo Cerda-Kohler; Danni Haichelis; Patricia Reuquén; Bianca Miarka; Mark Homer; Daniel Zapata-Gómez; Esteban Aedo-Muñoz

doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.931325

Training at moderate altitude improves submaximal but not maximal performance-related parameters in elite rowers

Front Physiol. 2022 Oct 14:13:931325. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.931325. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hugo Cerda-Kohler^{1

2

3

4}, Danni Haichelis^{4

5}, Patricia Reuquén^{5

6

7}, Bianca Miarka³, Mark Homer⁸, Daniel Zapata-Gómez⁵, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz^{3

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Escuela de Ciencias del Deporte y Actividad Física, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Santiago, Chile.
² Departamento de Educación Física, eporte y Recreación, Facultad de Artes y Educación Física, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile.
³ Laboratory of Psychophysiology and Performance in Sports and Combats, Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, School of Physical Education and Sport, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁴ Unidad de Fisiología del Ejercicio, Centro de Innovación, Clínica MEDS, Santiago, Chile.
⁵ Unidad de Ciencias Aplicadas al Deporte, Instituto Nacional de Deportes, Santiago, Chile.
⁶ Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
⁷ Laboratorio de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
⁸ School of Human and Social Sciences, Buckinghamshire New University, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O_2max), physiological thresholds, and hemoglobin mass are strong predictors of endurance performance. High values of V̇O_2max, maximal aerobic power (MAP), and power output at anaerobic thresholds are key variables in elite rowers. Endurance athletes often use altitude training as a strategy to improve performance. However, no clear evidence exists that training at natural altitude enhances sea-level performance in elite rowers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude training on rowing-performance parameters at sea level. The study was conducted on eleven rowers (Six females, five males) from the Chilean National Team during a 3-week moderate altitude training (∼2,900 m. a.s.l.) under the live high-train high (LHTH) model. It included a rowing ergometer maximal incremental test and blood analysis (pre and post-altitude). Gas exchange analysis was performed to measure V̇O_2max, ventilatory thresholds (VTs) and rowing economy/efficiency (ECR/GE%). LHTL training improves performance-related variables at sea level (V̇E_max: 3.3% (95% CI, 1.2-5.5); hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]): 4.3% (95% CI, 1.7-6.9); hematocrit (%): 4.5% (95% CI, 0.9-8.2); RBC (red blood cells) count: 5.3% (95% CI, 2.3-8.2); power at VT2: 6.9% (95% CI, 1.7-12.1), V̇E_VT2: 6.4% (95% CI, 0.4-12.4); power at VT1: 7.3% (95% CI, 1.3-13.3), V̇E_VT1: 8.7% (95% CI, 1.6-15.8)) and economy/efficiency-related variables (ECR_VT2: 5.3% (95% CI, -0.6 to -10.0); GE(%): 5.8% (95% CI, 0.8-10.7)). The LHTH training decreased breathing economy at MAP (-2.8% (95% CI, 0.1-5.6)), pVT2 (-9.3% (95% CI, -5.9 to -12.7)), and pVT1 (-9.3% (95% CI, -4.1 to -14.4)). Non-significant changes were found for V̇O_2max and MAP. This study describes the effects of a 3-week moderate altitude (LHTH training) on performance and economy/efficiency-related variables in elite rowers, suggesting that it is an excellent option to induce positive adaptations related to endurance performance.

Keywords: altitude training; economy of rowing; endurance performance; maximal oxygen uptake; ventilatory thresholds.