Aerobic Exercise Performance During Load Carriage and Acute Altitude Exposure

J Strength Cond Res. 2020 Apr;34(4):946-951. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003557.

Abstract

Coffman, KE, Luippold, AJ, Salgado, RM, Heavens, KR, Caruso, EM, Fulco, CS, and Kenefick, RW. Aerobic exercise performance during load carriage and acute altitude exposure. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 946-951, 2020-This study quantified the impact of combined load carriage and acute altitude exposure on 5-km running time-trial (TT) performance and self-selected pacing strategy. Furthermore, this study developed a velocity prediction tool (nomogram) for similar aerobic exercise tasks performed under various combinations of altitude and load stress. Nine volunteers (6M/3F, age: 24 ± 7 years, height: 171 ± 6 cm, body mass: 72 ± 7 kg, and V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak: 50.5 ± 5.2 ml·min·kg) completed a randomized, repeated-measures design protocol. Volunteers performed 3 familiarization (FAM) trials at sea level (SL; 250 m) with no-load carriage. Experimental testing included 3 self-paced, blinded 5-km running TT on a treadmill while carrying a 30% body mass external load at SL, moderate altitude (MA; 2000 m), and high altitude (HA; 3000 m). At SL, load carriage resulted in a 36% decrement in 5-km exercise performance in comparison with FAM trials (43 ± 7 vs. 32 ± 3 minutes; p < 0.001). Time required to complete the 5-km distance while carrying an external load was increased by 11% when performed at HA vs. SL (48 ± 7 vs. 43 ± 7 minutes; p = 0.001). TT pace was not different among experimental conditions (load carriage at SL, MA, and HA) until after 1 km of the running distance had been completed. Heart rate was not different among experimental conditions throughout the entire TT (170 ± 17 b·min). These data quantify the anticipated reduction in aerobic exercise performance under various combinations of acute altitude exposure and load carriage conditions. The self-paced running TT approach used presently allowed for development of an altitude-load nomogram for use in recreational, occupational, or military settings.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Altitude*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Exercise Test / methods
  • Female
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Personnel
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Running / physiology
  • Weight-Bearing / physiology*
  • Young Adult