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Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(08): 627-636
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-109376
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cardiorespiratory Responses of Adults and Children during Normoxic and Hypoxic Exercise

Jernej Kapus
1   Faculty of Sport, Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Igor B. Mekjavic
2   Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Adam C. McDonnell
2   Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Anton Ušaj
1   Faculty of Sport, Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Janez Vodičar
1   Faculty of Sport, Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Peter Najdenov
3   Department of Pediatrics, Jesenice General Hospital, Jesenice, Slovenia
,
Miroljub Jakovljević
4   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Polona Jaki Mekjavić
5   Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Milan Žvan
1   Faculty of Sport, Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenia
,
Tadej Debevec
2   Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 23 January 2017

Publication Date:
31 May 2017 (online)

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Abstract

We aimed to elucidate potential differential effects of hypoxia on cardiorespiratory responses during submaximal cycling and simulated skiing exercise between adults and pre-pubertal children. Healthy, low-altitude residents (adults, N=13, Age=40±4yrs.; children, N=13, age=8±2yrs.) were tested in normoxia (Nor: PiO2=134±0.4 mmHg; 940 m) and normobaric hypoxia (Hyp: PiO2=105±0.6 mmHg; ~3 000 m) following an overnight hypoxic acclimation (≥12-hrs). On both days, the participants underwent a graded cycling test and a simulated skiing protocol. Minute ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR) and capillary-oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured throughout both tests. The cycling data were interpolated for 2 relative workload levels (1 W·kg−1 & 2 W·kg−1). Higher resting HR in hypoxia, compared to normoxia was only noted in children (Nor:78±17; Hyp:89±17 beats·min−1; p<0.05), while SpO2 was significantly lower in hypoxia (Nor:97±1%; Hyp:91±2%; p<0.01) with no between-group differences. The VE, VO2 and HR responses were higher during hypoxic compared to normoxic cycling test in both groups (p<0.05). Except for greater HR during hypoxic compared to normoxic skiing in children (Nor:155±19; Hyp:167±13 (beats·min−1); p<0.05), no other significant between-group differences were noted during the cycling and skiing protocols. In summary, these data suggest similar cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal hypoxic cycling and simulated skiing in adults and children.

Key words

hypoxemia - altitude - acclimatization - children - skiing
 

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