Moderate Hypoxia on Selected Physiological Variables of Middle and Long Distance Runners

Jince Kappan1, Dr.Sureshkutty .K2

1

Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirapally, India. 2 Associate Professor, School of Physical Education and sports science, Kannur University, Kearala, India 1 jince.kappan@gmail.com

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the Effect of Moderate Hypoxia on Selected Physiological Variables such as, B l ood P ressure, R est i ng heart rat e and vi t al C apaci t y of Middle and Long Distance Runners. Methodology: 40 college level middle and long distance runners were selected and divided in to two groups. The selected subjects were trained athletes. The experimental group I exposed to the experimental training at high altitude and the experimental group II undergone their training at sea level. The training was given for a period of eight weeks. All the subjects were tested in the selected Physiological Variables before and after the training program. Dependent t test was used to find out the mean differences since the groups will be equal and will be independent on the same treatment variable. Results: The results of the study shows eight weeks high altitude training program resulted in changes on resting heart rate and Vital capacity and it made no changes on blood pressure. Conclusions: Participation in eight weeks high altitude training program resulted in improvement on resting heart rate and vital capacity. Recommendations: In the light of conclusions drawn, the following recommendations are made: A study may be under taken for different age group and on female athletes. Longitudinal studies may be undertaken by increasing the duration and intensity of training program. Studies may be under taken for players from team sports and games requiring high amount of speed endurance. Similar studies may be under taken at a higher altitude. Key words: Moderate Hypoxia, Training, Vi t al capaci t y and R esti ng Heart rat e.

INTRODUCTION In the last few decades sports have gained tremendous popularity all over the globe. The popularity of sports is still increasing at a fast pace and this happy trend is likely to continue in the future also. Sports have become an important social and cultural activity in the modern world, which is being given the rightful place it deserves by the nations and societies of the world. The area of performance sports is not merely a glamorous area of sports. It also fulfils its certain valuable social functions due to which it has been accorded high importance all over the world. It contributes towards the all round development of the personality and enhances the horizons of awareness among the competing sports men with regard to the fact that they are representing particular states or countries of their origin. Different training methods have been commonly used to improve physical fitness and its related standards of performance of athletes. The training methods include weight training, circuit training, plyometric training, fartlek training, altitude training, resistance training and interval training. Altitude training traditionally referred to as altitude camp, is the practice by some endurance athletes of training for several weeks at high altitude, preferably over 2,500 m (8,000 ft) above sea level, though more commonly at a lower altitude due to the lack of availability of a suitable location. At this altitude the air still contains approximately 20.9% oxygen, but the barometric pressure and thus the partial pressure of oxygen is reduced. More common nowadays is the use of an altitude simulation tent, altitude simulation room, or maskbased hypoxicator system where the barometric pressure is kept the same, but the oxygen content is reduced which also reduces the partial pressure of oxygen. Such devices have enabled different altitude training

techniques including Live High, Train Low, or the practice of merely performing occasional exercise sessions at altitude. METHODOLOGY Forty college level athletes selected and divided in to two groups. The selected subjects were trained athletes. This is to avoid the acclimatization problem. The experimental group exposed to the experimental treatment at high altitude and control group undergone their training at sea level. The training was given for a period of six months. The intensity and repetitions were increased after every two weeks. The subjects tested in Blood Pressure, Resting Heart Rate and Vital Capacity. Dependent t test was used to find out the mean differences since the groups will be equal and will be independent on the same treatment variable. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The data collected on each variable was described by finding out the mean and standard deviation. To find out whether the mean difference is significant or not dependent t test was employed. The variable wise statistical analyses were given in the following tables. TABLE I Mean Comparison of HATG and SLTG on Resting Pulse Rate Groups HATG SLTG Paired Differences Mean 1.4000 .25000 Std. Dev .82078 .63867 SEM .18353 .14281 df 19 19 t 7.628* 1.751

* Significant at t.05 (19, 2) = 2.093. From the table it is clear that the Resting Pulse Rate (RPR) had significantly improved since the calculated t value of 7.628 was greater than the required table value. In the case of SLTG there were no significant changes. TABLE II Mean Comparison of HATG and SLTG on Systolic Blood Pressure Groups HAT G SLTG is 0. Table reveals that in the case of the high altitude training group (HATG) no significant changes were noticed in systolic Blood Pressure following eight weeks of high altitude training. Since the 't' value obtained for Systolic Blood Pressure was 1.00, which was lesser than the required table value. In the case of sea level training group (SLTG) also there were no significant changes. TABLE III Mean Comparison of HATG and SLTG on Diastolic Blood Pressure Groups HATG SLTG Mean .0000 0.00 Std. Dev 3.24443 0.00 SEM .72548 0.00 df 19 0.00 t .000 0.00 Paired Differences Mean .500 0.00 Std. Dev 2.23607 0.00 SEM .50000 0.00 df 19 19 t 1.00 0.00

The correlation and t of control group cannot be computed because the standard error of the difference

The correlation and t cannot be computed because the standard error of the difference is 0.

Table reveals that in the case of the high altitude training group (HATG) no significant changes were noticed in Diastolic Blood Pressure following eight weeks of high altitude training. Since the 't' value obtained for Diastolic Blood Pressure was 0.00, which was lesser than the required table value. In the case of sea level training group (SLTG) also there were no significant changes. TABLE XXV Mean Comparison of HATG and SLTG on Vital Capacity Groups HATG SLTG Paired Differences Mean 120.00 17.500 Std. Dev 83.350 49.40435 SEM 18.637 11.04715 df 19 19 t 6.439* 1.584

* Significant at t.05 (19, 2) = 2.093. From the table it is clear that the vital capacity had significantly improved since the calculated t value of 6.439 was greater than the required table value. In the case of sea level training group (SLTG) there were no significant changes. Discussion on the findings Many athletes use altitude training for the purpose of enhancing performance. Most of these athletes participate in endurance based sports such as distance running, triathlon, road cycling and cross country skiing. Each season they spend considerable time and resources training at altitude in order to improve their workout capabilities and competitive performance. When the human body is exposed to hypoxia, it struggles to produce required amounts of energy with less available oxygen. This struggle triggers the onset of a range of physiological adaptations geared towards enhancing the efficiency of the body's respiratory, cardiovascular and oxygen utilization systems. Resting Pulse Rate Moderate hypoxic training program had significantly reduced the Resting Pulse Rate of middle and long distance runners which was substantiated by the studies conducted by Levine et. al., (1992), Terrados (1997), Martin (1994), Saltin (1997) and Hartmann (1995). A high altitude environment possesses less oxygen in the air. The air is thinner, so you are unable to pull the same amount of oxygen in lungs with each breath. When we move to high altitudes, heart rate immediately speeds up when you're exercising and at rest. When we travel to higher altitudes for a longer period, body acclimatizes and resting heart rate decreases and returns back to the same heart rate values that had at the altitude one travelled from. It takes about two weeks to complete the acclimatization process. Because of this process, many athletes will arrive at a location a few days prior to their competition or event in order to perform at their regular abilities. If moving after a long period at high altitude to a lower altitude, there is a typical slight decrease in heart rate as the heart has become more efficient, but the acclimatization period is not nearly as extensive (http://www.livestrong.com /article/264584-heart-rate-high-altitudes/). Systolic Blood Pressure There were no relevant changes in Systolic Blood Pressure following eight weeks moderate hypoxic training program. Diastolic Blood Pressure On the basis of result obtained, it was concluded that there were no relevant changes in Diastolic Blood Pressure following eight weeks moderate hypoxic training program. Living at or travelling to high altitudes can raise a person's blood pressure, depending on the rate of ascent and the amount of time spent at the high altitude. At higher altitudes, the body works harder to process oxygen. This stress can cause high blood pressure. But the more time a person spends at the higher altitude, the better acclimatized the body becomes. Vital Capacity

Moderate hypoxic training program had significantly increased the vital capacity of middle and long distance runners which can be substantiated by the studies conducted by Sharma and Brown (2007) and Cogo, Legnani and Allegra (1997). One of the main functions of the lungs is to supply oxygen from the environment to the body. During at high levels of work and at rest, optimal gas exchange at the alveolar-capillary membrane is needed to provide adequate supply of oxygen to the tissues and for the elimination of carbon dioxide. To supply oxygen to the body, the mechanical function of the lungs, respiratory muscles and chest wall have an impact on providing a large enough volume of air. Further, at high altitude, lower air pressure makes it difficult for oxygen to enter vascular system which in turn results in hypobaric hypoxia. Therefore limitation of oxygen diffusion under physical exertion could be observed in high altitudes. Due to the diminished density of ambient air, there is a measurable increase of expiratory bronchial flow as well as a diminution of the peripheral airway resistance. Altitude training (which also called Hypoxic training) is a well tried though not undisputed means of preparing for competitions at altitude as well as for the improvement of competition and training performance at sea level. Altitude training is an established part of training for many top level athletes in endurance sports. Altitude training is a performance resource because it can be used to set training stimuli which are higher than the stimuli triggered by normal training methods (Wolski, 1997). A generalization of various studies (Levine et. al., (1992), Terrados (1997), Martin (1994), Saltin (1997), Hartmann (1995) is that altitude training is a developmental stimulus because the organism adapts to the reduced oxygen partial pressure and the resulting lack of oxygen. In addition to this, the specific climatic conditions have a long lasting positive effects on the main functional parameters of organism like erythrocyte volume, haemoglobin, myoglobin, cardiovascular and respiratory system (heart rate, Ventilatory minute volume, oxygen uptake), cell, number of mitochondria, number of enzymes, hormonal regulation, acid tolerance etc (Reiss, 1999). Checking the several altitude facilities around the world it becomes clear that altitude training plays an important role in preparing elite and sub elite athletes all over the world. They devote considerable amounts of time, efforts, and resources to train in real or stimulated altitude, with the expectation of improved sea level performance. While acute hypoxia deteriorates athletic performance, chronic hypoxia may induce acclimatization effects, mostly through the acceleration of RBC production, which could improve anaerobic capacity and therewith performance upon return to sea level. Other potential benefits such as improved exercise economy, enhanced muscle buffer capacity and pH regulation, and improved mitochondrial function have also been postulated (Wolski, 1997). CONCLUSIONS The results of the study permitted the following conclusions: Participation in eight weeks high altitude training program resulted in improvement on High Density Lipoprotein (H.D.L), and Red Blood Cells (R.B.C) and decrease of Low Density Lipoprotein (L.D.L) and Blood Lactate. it made no significant effect on Creatine. RECOMMENDATIONS In the light of conclusions drawn, the following recommendations are made: A study may be under taken for different age group and on female athletes. Longitudinal studies may be undertaken by increasing the duration and intensity of training program. Studies may be under taken for players from team sports and games requiring high amount of speed endurance. Similar studies may be under taken at a higher altitude. REFERENCES: ML Foss and SJ Keteyian. (1998). Foxs Physiological Basis for Exercise and Sport (Newyork: United States, Edward E Barteell. E. W. Garrett and T. Donald. (2002). Exercise and Sports Sciences (Philadelphia: East Washington Lippingcott Williams and Wilkins. J. H. Willmore, (1997). Strength, Power and Muscular Endurance in Athletic Training and Physical Fitness (Boston: Allgn and Batter Inc. J. Hoffman. (1992). Physiological Aspects of Sports Training and Performance (Newyork: Simon and Schuster.

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