Int J Sports Med 1994; 15(7): 403-407
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021078
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of Acute Hypoxia at Low Altitude and Acute Normoxia at High Altitude on Performance During a 30-s Wingate Test in Children

S. Blonc1 , G. Falgairette2 , M. Bedu3 , N. Fellmann3 , H. Spielvogel4 , J. Coudert3
  • 1Laboratoire de Physiologie de la performance motrice, UFR STAPS, 63170 Aubiere, France
  • 2Laboratoire de Biomécanique et de Biologie de l'exercice, UFR STAPS, 06100 Nice, France
  • 3Laboratoire de Physiologie - Biologie du Sport, Faculté de Médecine, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France
  • 4Instituto Boliviano de Biologia de Altura, La Paz, Bolivia
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

The effect of acute hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.137±0.001) at Low Altitude (LA: Clermont-Ferrand, 330 m) and acute normoxia (FIO2 = 0.30610.006) at High Altitude (HA: La Paz, 3600 m) on performance during a 30-s Wingate test has been investigated in prepubertal children (Tanner stage 1). Twenty five boys (LA, n = 10; HA, n = 15) aged from 10.6 to 12.7 years performed two Wingate tests at random: at LA, one in normoxia (ambient air) and one in acute hypoxia and at HA, one in chronic hypoxia (ambient air) and one in acute normoxia. The subjects performed the two tests using the same calibrated cycle ergometer. Peak Power (PP), Mean Power (MP), O2 uptake during the 30 s (V̇O2) and blood lactate accumulation (Δ[L]s) were measured. Compared to normoxia, acute hypoxia at LA did not alter PP (8.0±1.1 vs 7.9±1.3 W·kg-1BW) and MP (6.1±0.7 vs 6.1±1.1 W·kg-1BW). Similarly, compared to chronic hypoxia, acute normoxia at HA did not modify these parameters (PP: 7.4±1.5 vs 7.3±1.8; MP: 5.4±1.2 vs 5.5±1.1; W·kg-1 BW). V̇O2 and Δ[L]s were neither significantly changed by acute hypoxia at LA (520±50 vs 550±60 ml O2; 5.3±1.7 vs 4.8±1.7 mmol·l-1) nor by acute normoxia at HA (530±110 vs 500±90ml O2; 3.4±1.3 vs 3.3±1.0 mmol·l-1). When comparing HA and LA (chronic situation), V̇O2 was similar at HA and LA but Δ[L]s was reduced at HA; however chronic hypoxia did not alter Wingate performances. Thus, in prepubertal children, modifications of O2 fractions of inspired air did not alter MP, blood lactate accumulation and aerobic contribution to a 30-s Wingate test.