Georges Weis, Jenny Schlichtiger, Korbinian Lackermair, Wolfgang Hamm, Dominik Schüttler, Stefan Brunner, Anna Strüven
{"title":"Effect of Acute Altitude Exposure on Anaerobic Threshold Assessed by a Novel Electrocardiogram-Based Method.","authors":"Georges Weis, Jenny Schlichtiger, Korbinian Lackermair, Wolfgang Hamm, Dominik Schüttler, Stefan Brunner, Anna Strüven","doi":"10.1089/ham.2023.0073","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Acute altitude has a relevant impact on exercise physiology and performance. Therefore, the positive impact on the performance level is utilized as a training strategy in professional as well as recreational athletes. However, ventilatory thresholds (VTs) and lactate thresholds (LTs), as established performance measures, cannot be easily assessed at high altitudes. Therefore, a noninvasive, reliable, and cost-effective method is needed to facilitate and monitor training management at high altitudes. <i>High Alt Med Biol</i>. 25:94-99, 2024. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a cross-sectional setting, a total of 14 healthy recreational athletes performed a graded cycling exercise test at sea level (Munich, Germany: 512 m/949 mbar) and high altitude (Zugspitze: 2,650 m/715 mbar). Anaerobic thresholds (ATs) were assessed using a novel method based on beat-to-beat repolarization instability (dT) detected by Frank-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. The ECG-based ATs (ATdT°) were compared to routine LTs assessed according to Dickhuth and Mader. <b><i>Results:</i></b> After acute altitude exposure, a decrease in AT was detected using a novel ECG-based method (ATdT°: 159.80 ± 52.21 W vs. 134.66 ± 34.91 W). AtdT° levels correlated significantly with LT<sub>Dickhuth</sub> and LT<sub>Mader</sub>, at baseline (r<sub>Dickhuth/AtdT°</sub> = 0.979; <i>p</i> < 0.001) (r<sub>Mader/AtdT°</sub> = 0.943; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and at high altitude (r<sub>Dickhuth/AtdT°</sub> = 0.969; <i>p</i> < 0.001) (r<sub>Mader/AtdT°</sub> = 0.942; <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Assessment of ATdT is a reliable method to detect performance alterations at altitude. This novel method may facilitate the training management of athletes at high altitudes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12975,"journal":{"name":"High altitude medicine & biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"High altitude medicine & biology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2023.0073","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/1/31 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"BIOPHYSICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Acute altitude has a relevant impact on exercise physiology and performance. Therefore, the positive impact on the performance level is utilized as a training strategy in professional as well as recreational athletes. However, ventilatory thresholds (VTs) and lactate thresholds (LTs), as established performance measures, cannot be easily assessed at high altitudes. Therefore, a noninvasive, reliable, and cost-effective method is needed to facilitate and monitor training management at high altitudes. High Alt Med Biol. 25:94-99, 2024. Methods: In a cross-sectional setting, a total of 14 healthy recreational athletes performed a graded cycling exercise test at sea level (Munich, Germany: 512 m/949 mbar) and high altitude (Zugspitze: 2,650 m/715 mbar). Anaerobic thresholds (ATs) were assessed using a novel method based on beat-to-beat repolarization instability (dT) detected by Frank-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. The ECG-based ATs (ATdT°) were compared to routine LTs assessed according to Dickhuth and Mader. Results: After acute altitude exposure, a decrease in AT was detected using a novel ECG-based method (ATdT°: 159.80 ± 52.21 W vs. 134.66 ± 34.91 W). AtdT° levels correlated significantly with LTDickhuth and LTMader, at baseline (rDickhuth/AtdT° = 0.979; p < 0.001) (rMader/AtdT° = 0.943; p < 0.001), and at high altitude (rDickhuth/AtdT° = 0.969; p < 0.001) (rMader/AtdT° = 0.942; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Assessment of ATdT is a reliable method to detect performance alterations at altitude. This novel method may facilitate the training management of athletes at high altitudes.
期刊介绍:
High Altitude Medicine & Biology is the only peer-reviewed journal covering the medical and biological issues that impact human life at high altitudes. The Journal delivers critical findings on the impact of high altitude on lung and heart disease, appetite and weight loss, pulmonary and cerebral edema, hypertension, dehydration, infertility, and other diseases. It covers the full spectrum of high altitude life sciences from pathology to human and animal ecology.