How does altitude training benefit an endurance athlete who returns to sea level?

The kidneys release more erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production. More haemoglobin raises the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity and aerobic performance.

How long do the benefits of altitude training last after returning to sea level?

The extra red blood cells are lost within a few weeks. Athletes therefore time their return shortly before a major competition.

What is meant by live high, train low?

Athletes live at altitude to gain the red blood cell adaptations. Athletes train at lower altitude so the intensity of training stays high.

Eduqas A-Level Physical Education A550QS

Health, Fitness and an Active Lifestyle

Topic overview Health, fitness and the UK activity guidelines Physical, psychological and social benefits of exercise Sedentary lifestyles and the risks to health

Short-Term Responses to Exercise

Topic overview The heart as a dual-action pump and the cardiac cycle Stroke volume, heart rate and cardiac output during exercise Nervous and hormonal control of heart rate Blood vessels, blood pressure and the vascular shunt Ventilation, gas exchange and neuromuscular responses

Long-Term Adaptations to Exercise

Topic overview Bone, connective tissue and muscle adaptations Bradycardia, cardiac hypertrophy and ejection fraction Lung volumes, pulmonary diffusion and aerobic capacity

Fitness Testing and Components of Fitness

Topic overview Health-related and skill-related fitness components Field test protocols for each component Laboratory tests and maximal versus sub-maximal testing Validity, reliability and interpreting results

Training Methods, Principles and Periodisation

Topic overview Specificity, progressive overload, reversibility, variance and FITT Continuous, fartlek, interval and high intensity training Weight, plyometric, circuit and flexibility training Altitude training and training in hot and cold climates Training zones, heart rate monitoring and periodisation

Energy Systems

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Fatigue and Recovery

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Joints and the Musculo-Skeletal System

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Biomechanical Principles and Levers

Topic overview Newton's laws of motion in sport Momentum, impulse and force–time graphs Stability, centre of mass and equilibrium Lever systems and mechanical advantage

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Technology in Sport

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Training Methods, Principles and Periodisation

Altitude training and training in hot and cold climates

3 things to know
Components 1 and 2

Overview

Oxygen at altitude and its immediate effects, altitude training and how long its benefits last, live high and train low, simulated altitude, drawbacks and the 100 m sprinter, heat acclimatisation for a marathon runner, and training in the cold.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Why is less oxygen taken into the blood at high altitude?

Key term

What immediate effects does altitude have on a performer?

Key term

What is altitude training?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Why is less oxygen taken into the blood at high altitude?
Model answer
Air pressure is lower at altitude, so the partial pressure of oxygen falls. Less oxygen diffuses into the blood, although the air is still about 21% oxygen.
2
What immediate effects does altitude have on a performer?
Model answer
Haemoglobin is less saturated with oxygen, so less oxygen reaches the muscles. Heart rate and breathing rate rise, and aerobic performance falls.
3
What is altitude training?
Model answer
Altitude training is living or training at high altitude, usually above about 2,000 m. A typical camp lasts three to four weeks.
4
How does altitude training benefit an endurance athlete who returns to sea level?
Model answer
The kidneys release more erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production. More haemoglobin raises the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity and aerobic performance.
5
How long do the benefits of altitude training last after returning to sea level?
Model answer
The extra red blood cells are lost within a few weeks. Athletes therefore time their return shortly before a major competition.
6
What is meant by live high, train low?
Model answer
Athletes live at altitude to gain the red blood cell adaptations. Athletes train at lower altitude so the intensity of training stays high.

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Health, Fitness and an Active Lifestyle

Short-Term Responses to Exercise

Long-Term Adaptations to Exercise

Fitness Testing and Components of Fitness

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