Wellness, fatigue and physical performance acclimatisation to a 2-week soccer camp at 3600 m (ISA3600)

Abstract

ObjectivesTo examine the time course of wellness, fatigue and performance during an altitude training camp (La Paz, 3600 m) in two groups of either sea-level (Australian) or altitude (Bolivian) native young soccer players.MethodsWellness and fatigue were assessed using questionnaires and resting heart rate (HR) and HR variability. Physical performance was assessed using HR responses to a submaximal run, a Yo-Yo Intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-YoIR1) and a 20 m sprint. Most measures were performed daily, with the exception of Yo-YoIR1 and 20 m sprints, which were performed near sea level and on days 3 and 10 at altitude.ResultsCompared with near sea level, Australians had moderate-to-large impairments in wellness and Yo-YoIR1 relative to the Bolivians on arrival at altitude. The acclimatisation of most measures to altitude was substantially slower in Australians than Bolivians, with only Bolivians reaching near sea-level baseline high-intensity running by the end of the camp. Both teams had moderately impaired 20 m sprinting at the end of the camp. Exercise HR had large associations (r>0.5–0.7) with changes in Yo-YoIR1 in both groups.ConclusionsDespite partial physiological and perceptual acclimatisation, 2 weeks is insufficient for restoration of physical performance in young sea-level native soccer players. Because of the possible decrement in 20 m sprint time, a greater emphasis on speed training may be required during and after altitude training. The specific time course of restoration for each variable suggests that they measure different aspects of acclimatisation to 3600 m; they should therefore be used in combination to assess adaptation to altitude.

The influence of a mild thermal challenge and severe hypoxia on exercise performance and serum BDNF

“…During the recovery phase HR was again higher at altitude. This underlines the loss of recovery capacity of the human body at altitude (Buchheit et al 2013) and possibly supports the increased skin blood flow and the sustained decrease in T core as mentioned before.…”

Changes in blood gas transport of altitude native soccer players near sea-level and sea-level native soccer players at altitude (ISA3600)

“…Results of Yo-YoIR1 are presented in a companion paper 11. Briefly, total distance covered in the Yo-YoIR1 decreased in both teams at altitude compared to near sea-level, but to a greater extent in Australians.…”

Position statement—altitude training for improving team-sport players’ performance: current knowledge and unresolved issues

“…The rationale for attempting to increase Hbmass in team-sport players would be to increase their VO 2max and enhance blood buffer capacity, and thereby decrease relative exercise intensity during games and increase tolerance for repeated-sprint exercises, respectively 16 30–34. While it is noted that, in some players, those values might already be near the upper limit of aerobic power, the expert panel agreed that any improvement in blood oxygen carrying capacity needs to be balanced so as not to limit explosive-type performance gains 35 36…”

“…On the one hand, the degree of hypoxia determines the magnitude of the induced physiological changes in a ‘dose–response’ relationship, with higher altitudes triggering larger/faster increases in red cell mass 28 78. On the other hand, exposure to chronic (several days to several weeks) hypoxia using elevations >3000–3500 m can be unproductive for some individual players as the stress on their body and the resultant side effects—for example, loss of appetite, inhibition of protein synthesis, muscle wasting, prevalence and severity of acute mountain sickness, excessive ventilatory work and/or metabolic compensation—from such high altitude could outweigh any erythropoietic benefits and thereby impair performance gains 35 54 86. Reportedly, however, sleep quality is rapidly increased with acclimatisation87 and may not even be adversely affected by acute (1–2 days) or chronic (1–2 weeks) exposures to high altitudes (>3500 m) 88.…”