ALTITUDE AND DIFFERING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND ITS EFFECTS ON TRAINING

Using initial work and results from NASA. The Mexico Olympics and the British Armed Forces, we can judge if training at altitude has an effect on working performance.

Certainly in Mexico, track events greater than 800 metres were significantly affected by lower oxygen availability. This may suggest that events with a time span of less than 2 minutes would not be affected by a change in available oxygen. If we need to work or train at altitude, certain proven guidelines need to be followed.

Altitude acclimatisation must be achieved first and this consists of tapering off a workload at least 3 weeks prior to ascending. It appears more beneficial to start at low altitude, probably 1500m and increase to 2000m and then to 3000m.

Acclimatisation usually does not take its maximum effect until 2000m have been reached.

No difficulties are generally expected in healthy persons up to an altitude of 2000m.

The first symptoms of hypoxia (mountain or altitude sickness) are seen as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, paleness and the onset of sweating. Characteristic psychic changes occur which include euphoria, an increased sense of well being and an over estimation of one's ability, later degenerating into depression and its associated problems. The danger of not heeding warning signs is that the work capacity is falsely estimated and incorrect workloads can lead to a pathological state.

The question is; does this form of training have any real benefit?

When the British Army train in cold altitude conditions and then after a few months train in warmer altitude conditions, the benefits for their work was obvious from results on the Marine Commandos compared to the US troops who suffered badly in the mountains of Afghanistan.

However, as swimmers do not need comparable workload stamina, is this sort of training useful?  The answer appears to be NO but for those who wish to train at altitude the following information should be considered.

• Design a plan prior to altitude for 3 to 4 weeks, capable of improving the aerobic capacity, then tapering off and resting.
• Altitude total training should be for a minimum of 3 weeks, the first 7 days being gradually acclimatised to a lower amount of available oxygen.
• Taper off prior to coming down from altitude and descend in stages if possible.
• The value, if any, of the training appears to be immediate but the greater benefits appear to be between 1 and 5 weeks after descending, so plan the major event in that time frame.

Physiological Effects.

Immediately upon arrival at altitude, there is an increase in cardiac output and ventilation.  Attempting to reverse this means that physical work must be reduced, as the energy requirements are far greater than at sea level. This necessitates a very slow increase in workload over the first 7 days.

After 5 to 7 days, another phase appears to begin, where a reduction in the plasma bicarbonate is observed, coupled with an increase in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate of the red cells. Performance of the body is not appreciably increased at this time. Time must be allowed for cellular and hormonal changes to occur naturally and it is essential that from arrival to this time, training must be set from clinical lactate levels at least on a daily basis.

The last and most important feature to alter is the gradual increase in blood volume, red cell count and Haemoglobin level. This is a slow process and this effect can last significantly for up to 5 weeks after returning from altitude, with individual variations.

Whether swimmers benefit from this sort of training is debatable, possibly if they compete from 200m upwards, it could be advantageous, particularly for females. However, if any other "medication" is being taken, this training should not be considered.

There will always be arguments being physiologists about training benefits. Altitude training stimulates the body at an enzymic and hormonal level and provided that adequate and correct medical back up is provided to monitor training, there is no reason to omit altitude camps as part of a training plan. In our Army, lactate testing is done on a daily basis and in the first few days, 3 times a day. This is the sort of medical cover that must be provided if any benefits are to be seen. Without this, guesswork at altitude is medically criminal and should never be attempted.

My personal work with sports people has indicated, like many others, that events in a time frame of at least in excess of 2 minutes can benefit from correct altitude training.

I have never proved conclusively that swimming, in general, benefits from work at altitude, so the choice is yours, improve the oxygen carrying capacity with altitude or just keep the haemoglobin level at a high level naturally, with Iron, B12 or Folic Acid, not with EPO.

Further details of clinical trials from Army personnel carried out between 1972 and 1981, can not be published until 2006. These include thousands of results on many enzymes and hormones that were affected due to this type of training.

Consider training in HEAT, HUMIDITY and the prospect of DEHYDRATION.

How can these factors be observed and overcome?

Before training, or working and competing in this environment, there are some simple checks that may be performed, to avoid a loss in performance.

Altering the blood flow to the skin and secreting sweat produces adjustment of heat loss. Any heat produced by muscle is eliminated through the skin.

During work with small muscle groups, the blood flow determines the threshold for extended work.

In hot climatic conditions, the supplying arteries are the limiting factor and the threshold for extended work decreases.

With larger muscle groups, the heart performance can be overloaded by an increase in blood flow to the skin, producing a reduction in workload.

If large amounts of sweat are lost, there is an increase in blood viscosity and a reduction in blood volume, resulting in an impaired supply to muscle.

Acclimatisation.

Prolonged exposure to hot environmental conditions, along with exercise, produces adaptations in the body, including an increased sweat secretion.

Water constitutes 50-70% of the total body weight, depending on the proportion of fat. It is found in the blood, the interstitial fluid and the cells, the chemical composition of the three sections being different. Potassium and phosphate ions are mainly located in the cells, while sodium and chloride are found mainly in the extracellular space.

The distribution of water between the extra and intracellular space is affected by alterations in salt and water content. The ensuing body stress will force interruption of work.

The administration of salt is an important line of defence but it does not account for the loss of potassium, which is clinically critical. Dioralyte powder could provide that answer.

Anyone, who has worked in a field hospital pathology department, knows that tests can be conducted with speed and accuracy without having the large automated machines at hand.

PATHOLOGY SIGNS and TESTS.

Haematology.

1. An increase in reticulocytes is common. Easily counted and/or seen under microscopic scans.
2. A concentration of the blood, with a normal haemoglobin.
3. Possible production of "Target cells"

Biochemistry.

1. An increase in Ammonia in the urine.
2. An increase of Protein in the urine.
3. The volume of urine passed is decreased.
4. The urine appears to be concentrated.
5. Plasma protein is increased, even with a normal albumin/globulin ratio.

These tests are simple to perform and can be carried out with the minimum of equipment, if you know how and have been taught in field conditions.

To ensure sports people have an equal chance, lactate testing should be carried out randomly during periods of heat/humidity acclimatisation.

The use of electrolyte drinks can be useful and carbohydrate replacement therapy is essential but ensure they contain up to 5% Fructose.

Lactate testing will inform us what the body is capable of at that time. Without this knowledge there is no way that you can be sure that the training being done is at the correct level and that performance is not decreasing. The determination of PEAK LACTATES after heat and final swims is ESSENTIAL.

Peak lactates after racing mirrors the race pacing and useful information can be obtained from the results if interpreted correctly.

In very general terms, if the swimmer reaches his/her peak lactate with slower than expected times, the body has performed maximally. Therefore it may be deduced that a problem occurred before the race and not during it.

If slower times were accompanied by lower than expected lactates, it would suggest the swimmer was capable of more effort.

There are many other factors to be considered that cause low lactates but in basic terms it would indicate who was trying and who was not.

Even if all procedures are implemented, it still does not guarantee medals or even good performances.

The best preparation and planning will fail if swimmers are not given the medical and scientific backing to advise on the implementation of their desired programme.

If any country wants consistent world level performances, coaches must be given the knowledge to perform their work to the best of their ability, it is they who implement the training and must shoulder the blame for poor performances, not necessarily the swimmer.

Medical monitoring that is performed by properly qualified people with the ability to interpret the results correctly, can significantly aid the coach in their work, for the benefit of the swimmer and their ultimate performance

Failure to utilise a medical programme correctly will lead to stagnation and poor performances and therefore it is the medical staff who must take the blame.

There appears to be plenty of expertise in the world for different subjects, take care to employ those with a proven track record in aiding swimmers to achieve good performances. There are too many that have not done sufficient clinical chemistry testing to be qualified to interpret clinical results and therefore medical ethics and law are ignored.