Simulation of the Relationship Between Exercise and Cardiopulmonary Function at High Altitude

Abstract

Introduction: Due to various uncertain and unexpected factors in life such as diseases, natural disasters, traffic accidents, and congenital disabilities, the number and proportion of lower limb amputations are still rising for many reasons, so the research on lower limb prostheses is particularly important. Objective: This work aimed to study the relationship between altitude exercise and cardiopulmonary function. Methods: A model of abnormal changes in cardiopulmonary function was established, and then 40 plateau exercisers were selected, all of whom arrived in Tibet in March 2017. The relationship between pulmonary circulation volume and internal pressure in the chest was observed and compared. The relationship between cardiopulmonary sensory reflex and exercise (high altitude) breathing and heart rate was analyzed. A comparison of the cardiopulmonary function of subjects of different genders was implemented. Moreover, the influence of different altitudes on the subjects’ cardiopulmonary function and the subjects’ cardiopulmonary function changes before departure and during the first, second, and third week after departure were observed and compared. Results: I. As the pressure in the thoracic cavity increased, the subjects’ pulmonary circulation blood volume gradually decreased, and the decrease was most obvious in the stage of thoracic pressure −50 to 0. II. As the cardiorespiratory reflex coefficient increased, the subjects’ breathing and heart rate compensatory acceleration appeared. III. Tracking and monitoring of the subjects’ cardiopulmonary indicators revealed that with the increase in altitude, the subjects’ average arterial pressure, respiratory frequency, and heart rate all showed an upward trend, while the blood oxygen saturation value showed a downward trend. IV. No matter how high the altitude was, the average arterial pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate monitored of the subjects under exercise were significantly superior to the indicator values under resting state. In contrast, the blood oxygen saturation value showed the opposite trend. V. The subjects’ average arterial pressure, respiration, and heart rate in the first week were higher than other periods, but the blood oxygen saturation was relatively lower. In the second and third weeks, the changes in cardiopulmonary function were relatively smooth (all P<0.05). VI. The changes in the index of the cardiopulmonary function of subjects of different genders were small (p>0.05). Conclusion: Through modeling, the results of the plateau environment on the cardiopulmonary function of the body were made clearer, and these research data provided theoretical references for the training of the sports field in the plateau area. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.