Optimising training and prevention of injury GapFill

Elite athletes who take part in  aerobicthrowingexplosiveanaerobic events (e.g. marathon running) often resort to altitude training in order to maximise the adaptations that they experience during their training programme. Altitude training requires an athlete to perform their normal exercise load at an altitude greater than  0.24 m2,400 m240 m240,000 m above sea level. This can have a positive effect on their performance when they return to compete at lower altitudes.

At altitude, there is reduced  particlesheatnitrateoxygen in the air, meaning that the  heatnitrateparticleoxygen-carrying capacity of the body is reduced. The body responds to the reduced ability to provide the working muscles with oxygen by increasing the production of  nutrientswhite blood cellsred blood cellswater, which can lead to improved transportation of oxygen and removal of  carbon monoxidecarbon dioxidecarbon footprintscarbon. This will have a positive impact on performance when an athlete returns to sea level as the greater levels of  plasmaplateletswhite blood cellshaemoglobin will increase the amount of oxygen available for the muscles to work aerobically. This is why many elite aerobic athletes will go to an altitude training camp just before attending a competition such as the Olympic Games.

However, these benefits only last for up to  4,000 days440 days4 days14 days and are not permanent, so the athlete should make sure that they time their altitude training so that the benefits occur during an important competition. Furthermore, altitude training is physically and mentally difficult, meaning that training benefits may actually be fewer than if the athlete were to continue training at sea level. Plus, some athletes may experience altitude  giggleshungerhappinesssickness.