Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during mountain hiking and downhill skiing

Abstract

In Austria, more than 10 million hikers and skiers annually visit moderate altitudes. Nevertheless, there is little information on the frequency of cardiovascular diseases in mountaineers and the exercise responses during physical activity in the mountains. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases was determined by an inquiry of 527 mountain hikers and 785 alpine skiers. Two groups (n = 35) performed step tests at low altitude (600 m) and at high altitude (2000 m and 3500 m). Exercise responses to hiking and skiing were recorded in the subjects of the third group (n = 10). Hiking and skiing at moderate intensity evoked moderate cardiovascular and metabolic responses which are also well tolerated by persons with non-severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Low fitness, increasing altitude and intensity increased exercise responses, thereby enhancing the probability of cardiovascular events. A high degree of fitness based on regular training decreases exercise responses and improves exercise tolerance.

Endurance performance of the elderly mountaineer: Requirements, limitations, testing, and training

“…mountain hiking, trekking, rock-and ice-climbing. However, we found similar aerobic requirements for downhill skiing below 2500 m (18 ml O2·min -1 ·kg -1 for moderately skiing elderly persons) [51]. Nevertheless, muscle strength and motor coordinative aspects are more important or at least equally as important as aerobic capacity in this sport.…”

“…Given that the CO2 production is 18 ml · min -1 · kg -1 , VD/VT = 0.3 and PaCO2 = 30 mmHg at moderate to high altitude when climbing 300 m per hour, the resulting minute ventilation would be 740 ml·kg -1 and sea level MVV should not be lower than 1480 ml·min -1 ·kg -1 (FEV1 = 37 ml·kg -1 ), which would mean an MVV of 104 l·min -1 (FEV1 = 2.6 l) for a person with body mass 70 kg. During downhill skiing at altitudes up to 2500 m, average V · E in elderly men was shown to be 48 l·min -1 (696 ml·kg -1 ) [51]. These MVV values are easily achievable in healthy elderly and those with mild lung diseases and should not limit normal mountaineering and skiing activities at moderate altitudes in these individuals.…”

“…In another study, elderly people (59-83 years, n = 97) were observed for five days at 2500 m and, apart from mild symptoms of AMS, most of the participants had no adverse clinical events despite vigorous physical activity [7]. Also, downhill skiing at usual intensities caused only moderate cardiovascular responses in healthy elderly men and women [51]. However, Kujanik et al [58] reported a roughly 2-fold increase in the incidence of supraventricular and extraventricular systoles in elderly men after acute ascent to moderate altitudes, and thus an increase in arrhythmic events during acute exposure to altitude cannot be excluded.…”

“…However, mountaineers with mild COPD seem to do well at moderate altitudes [91], and MVV determinations as shown above may be helpful as guidelines for them. During downhill skiing, elderly men and women with COPD showed lower SaO2 values than skiers without COPD and their skiing intensity was limited by dyspnoea at altitudes up to 2500 m [51]. Allergic asthma may be less of a problem at high altitudes than at sea level because of decreased allergens and pollution [67].…”

Auswirkungen akuter Höhenexposition: Welche Höhe ist gesundheitlich verträglich?

“…Allerdings wurden eine leicht reduzierte Leistungsfähigkeit und das etwas frühere Auftreten von Angina pectoris, allerdings mit klarer Besserung im Rahmen der Akklimatisation, gezeigt. Generell gilt, dass ein höherer Fitnessgrad auch mit einer besseren Belastungstoleranz verbunden ist [47].…”