THE ROLES OF HIGH AND LOW ALTITUDES TRAINING ON SPORT PERFORMANCE AMONG TRAINED ATHLETES: A CONCISE REVIEW
Williams, Eke Jacintha; Mohammed, Idris Jika; Abdul, Mohammed
Sunday, Jonathan &*Dahiru, Abdullahi Danasabe
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
Email:danasabedahiru39@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The effects of altitude (high and low land) on sport performance cannot be overemphasized. This paper reviewed some physiological parameters resulting from altitude training as it affects sport performance among athletes. The paper highlighted that when athletes are exposed to high altitude training there will be an early failure of the respiratory system in response to hypoxia which was perfected by responses in the blood and the cardiovascular system signifying physiological effect of acclimatization. The paper also found that in the ventilation and gas exchange, respiration of both external and internal leads to delivery of oxygen to tissue from atmosphere. It was also highlighted in the paper that there is water loss and decrease in plasma volume which is associated with dry environment and hyperventilation, and the movement of fluid from the intravascular space into the interstitial and intracellular spaces. The review also explained that at high altitude, there is an increase in the metabolic stress and the cellular disturbance in the skeletal muscle. The vital adaptive response to altitude training is a switch from oxidative phosphorylation to anaerobic glycolysis in the energy metabolism and lastly the altitude challenge are some possible consequences or sicknesses an individual or athlete may encounter at high-altitude such as acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). The researcher suggested that, when traveling to high altitude there are preventative measures that can be taken in order to avoid the development of any high altitude sicknesses such as; a slow ascent, pre-acclimatization, avoid moderate exercise within the first two days at altitude, drinking plenty of water, eating an adequate amount, and obtain sufficient sleep.
