The Effect of Intermediate Altitude on the Army Physical Fitness Test

Abstract

Official physical training records of personnel stationed at intermediate altitude (elevation 5,280 feet) for at least 1 year were reviewed to gauge the effect of altitude on 2-mile running performance. An average of 48 additional seconds (a 5% increase in time) was required to complete the run compared to sea-level values in the same subjects. Run times gradually diminished during the first 9 months of assignment to altitude before stability was established. These data indicate that acclimatization occurs over several months. Even with acclimatization, substantial loss of performance is associated with habitation at intermediate altitude.

Validation of Maximal, Submaximal, and Nonexercise Indirect V˙O 2 max Estimations at 2600 m Altitude

“…According to a study in healthy runners in which altitude was simulated in a hypobaric chamber (Squires and Buskirk, 1982) and a pooled analysis of several studies analyzing changes in V˙ O 2 max with altitude (Fulco et al, 1998), V˙ O 2 max for a 2600 m altitude would be reduced by ∼13%. Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%–15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure ∼65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992; Padilla et al, 1998; Boning et al, 2001, 2004; Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002; Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

“…Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%-15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure *65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992;Padilla et al, 1998;Boning et al, 2001Boning et al, , 2004Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002;Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

Validation of Maximal, Submaximal, and Nonexercise Indirect V˙O 2 max Estimations at 2600 m Altitude

“…According to a study in healthy runners in which altitude was simulated in a hypobaric chamber (Squires and Buskirk, 1982) and a pooled analysis of several studies analyzing changes in V˙ O 2 max with altitude (Fulco et al, 1998), V˙ O 2 max for a 2600 m altitude would be reduced by ∼13%. Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%–15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure ∼65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992; Padilla et al, 1998; Boning et al, 2001, 2004; Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002; Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

“…Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%-15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure *65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992;Padilla et al, 1998;Boning et al, 2001Boning et al, , 2004Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002;Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

Validation of Maximal, Submaximal, and Nonexercise Indirect V˙O 2 max Estimations at 2600 m Altitude

“…According to a study in healthy runners in which altitude was simulated in a hypobaric chamber (Squires and Buskirk, 1982) and a pooled analysis of several studies analyzing changes in V˙ O 2 max with altitude (Fulco et al, 1998), V˙ O 2 max for a 2600 m altitude would be reduced by ∼13%. Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%–15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure ∼65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992; Padilla et al, 1998; Boning et al, 2001, 2004; Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002; Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

“…Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%-15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure *65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992;Padilla et al, 1998;Boning et al, 2001Boning et al, , 2004Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002;Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

Validation of Maximal, Submaximal, and Nonexercise Indirect V˙O 2 max Estimations at 2600 m Altitude

“…According to a study in healthy runners in which altitude was simulated in a hypobaric chamber (Squires and Buskirk, 1982) and a pooled analysis of several studies analyzing changes in V˙ O 2 max with altitude (Fulco et al, 1998), V˙ O 2 max for a 2600 m altitude would be reduced by ∼13%. Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%–15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure ∼65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992; Padilla et al, 1998; Boning et al, 2001, 2004; Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002; Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”

“…Our study findings are in agreement with previous reports that show a reduction of about 10%-15% in the peak oxygen consumption in subjects living at 2600 m (oxygen partial pressure *65 mm Hg), despite adequate erythropoietic adaptations (Perry et al, 1992;Padilla et al, 1998;Boning et al, 2001Boning et al, , 2004Schmidt et al, 2002). In fact, hemoglobin and hematocrit values in our sample were comparable to those reported for young untrained populations acclimatized to moderate altitude (Schmidt et al, 2002;Boning et al, 2004), supporting the notion that normal erythropoietic adaptation had already taken place.…”