Eur J Appl Physiol (2014) 114:1439–1449 DOI 10.1007/s00421-014-2863-4
Original Article
“Live High–Train High” increases hemoglobin mass in Olympic swimmers Thomas Christian Bonne · Carsten Lundby · Susanne Jørgensen · Lars Johansen · Monija Mrgan · Signe Refsgaard Bech · Mikael Sander · Marcelo Papoti · Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg
Received: 23 October 2013 / Accepted: 26 February 2014 / Published online: 27 March 2014 © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
Abstract Purpose This study tested whether 3–4 weeks of classical “Live High–Train High” (LHTH) altitude training increases swim-specific VO2max through increased hemoglobin mass (Hbmass). Methods Ten swimmers lived and trained for more than 3 weeks between 2,130 and 3,094 m of altitude, and a control group of ten swimmers followed the same training at sea-level (SL). Body composition was examined using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Hbmass was determined by carbon monoxide rebreathing. Swimming VO2peak was determined
Communicated by David C. Poole. T. C. Bonne · S. R. Bech · N. B. Nordsborg (*) Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark e-mail: [email protected] C. Lundby Zurich Center of Integrative Human Physiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland S. Jørgensen · L. Johansen National Test Center, Team Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark M. Mrgan Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Southwest Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark M. Sander Department of Cardiology, The Copenhagen Muscle Research Center and Flight Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark M. Papoti Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil
and swimming trials of 4 × 50, 200 and 3,000 m were performed before and after the intervention. Results Hbmass (n = 10) was increased (P 3 weeks at an altitude of >2,000 m to gain physiological adaptations with importance for performance (Saunders et al. 2009). In swimmers, LHTH increases Hbmass ~4–7 % after 2–4 weeks at ~2,000 m (Friedmann et al. 2005; Robach et al. 2006; Gough et al. 2012). However, swimming VO2max is unaffected after 13 days at 1,850 m (Roels et al. 2006) and after 13 days of “Live High–Train Low” (LHTL) despite increased hemoglobin mass (Robach et al. 2006). Importantly, in the studies evaluating swimming VO2max, altitude as well as duration was below the recommended (Saunders et al. 2009). Generally, insufficient altitude, duration and lack of a control group are a major concern in numerous previous investigations related to altitude training (Lundby et al. 2012). Thus, one primary aim of the present study was to evaluate whether more than 3 weeks of altitude training above 2,200 m can induce increased Hbmass and discipline-specific VO2max in world-class swimmers as compared to high-level swimmers engaging in a similar training camp at SL.
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Eur J Appl Physiol (2014) 114:1439–1449
Athletes will likely engage in altitude training if there is even a small chance for a performance enhancing effect. In swimmers, several studies have failed to detect a performance enhancing effect of altitude training. LHTH for 28 days at ~2,200 m in world-class swimmers increased Hbmass but failed to increase performance as evaluated at competitive swim races 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after returning to SL (Gough et al. 2012). No SL training camp control group was included in that study, but a season-long comparison between swimmers engaging in mid-season altitude training and swimmers training at SL also failed to show any performance enhancing effect of altitude training. In young swimmers aged ~16 years, 3 weeks training at ~2,200 m improved performance when evaluated as maximal speed reached in a stepwise increasing swimming speed test (Friedmann et al. 2005). Thus, it may be speculated that the exercise protocol used for evaluation of performance is of high importance. In the competitive setting, all performance determining factors such as environment, psychological factors and physiological capacity will influence performance, and therefore, it may be difficult to detect the possible effect of altitude training. In the present study, performance is evaluated in three different ways in order to maximize the possibility to detect relevant performance effects. Two primary hypotheses were evaluated in the present study: In world-class swimmers prolonged training at altitude causes (1) increased Hbmass that results in increased swimming-specific VO2max; (2) improved performance when evaluated as the ability to complete swimming-specific tests.
Methods Ten swimmers from the Danish Olympic swimming team (5 female, 5 male) were selected for a LHTH training camp by the national team coach (LHTH). Ten swimmers from a national swimming club competing at international and national elite level (6 female, 4 male) were selected for a SL training camp. Mean age was 19.3 ± 2.0 and 22.5 ± 3.3 years, mean height 177 ± 6 and 180 ± 6 cm and weight 72.0 ± 9.9 and 73.6 ± 9.6 kg for the SL and LHTH group, respectively. The study was approved by The Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics according to the Helsinki Declaration. All subjects were informed of any potential risks involved in the study before giving informed consent. Study design The protocol is illustrated in Fig. 1. Seven swimmers from the LHTH group initially traveled to Leadville, CO, USA
Eur J Appl Physiol (2014) 114:1439–1449
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Fig. 1 Schematic overview of protocol. Each measurement is listed in boxes. (1) and (2) Number of measurements used for determining Hbmass. W-2 and W-1 are 2 weeks before the intervention (baseline); W1–W4 denote weeks into the intervention. W1POST and W2POST denote the post-intervention testing period
(3,094 m above SL) for 1 week (W1) of altitude training. For logistic reasons, the remaining three swimmers remained at their usual training facility and performed the same amount of training as the rest of the group. From week 2 (W2) to week 4 (W4) all ten LHTH swimmers lived and trained in Flagstaff, AZ, USA at 2,130 m above SL. For the SL group, W1 was performed at their usual training facility while following same training plan as the LHTH group. To control for a possible “training camp effect” in the LHTH group, the SL group completed a SL training camp from W2 to W4 in Malaga, Spain. In addition to in water training, both groups completed 6 h/week of strength training. Both groups underwent performance testing and measurement of Hbmass at SL within 2 weeks of departure and within 1 week of return from the training camp. All hematological and performance-related measurements were carried out at the swimmers usual training facilities. Swimming performance was assessed in a 50-m pool (26.5 °C) at each group’s respective training facility. Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were conducted in either the nearby university (LHTH group) or hospital (SL group). During both training camps, swimmers had access to food and drinks ad libitum. Further, carbohydrate-rich drinks were available during training. It was ensured that none of the swimmers lost body weight by weight controls at least every 5th day. Training Both groups followed the same training guidelines (Fig. 2). Training guidelines were exclusively provided by the national team coach of the LHTH group. The
Fig. 2 Training load is given in km/week and divided into four different training intensity zones for the SL group (clear bars, n = 10) and LHTH group (crossed bars, n = 10). Specific distance for the various intensities over the period was for SL: recovery 87 km, aerobic 412 km, anaerobic 70 km, sprint 20 km and for LHTH: recovery 82 km, aerobic 422 km, anaerobic 61 km, sprint 25 km
primary competition after LHTH was more than 1 month later. The same training guidelines were followed by the SL group. Training was registered in four intensity zones. Briefly, “recovery” was defined as intensities at
Original Article
“Live High–Train High” increases hemoglobin mass in Olympic swimmers Thomas Christian Bonne · Carsten Lundby · Susanne Jørgensen · Lars Johansen · Monija Mrgan · Signe Refsgaard Bech · Mikael Sander · Marcelo Papoti · Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg
Received: 23 October 2013 / Accepted: 26 February 2014 / Published online: 27 March 2014 © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
Abstract Purpose This study tested whether 3–4 weeks of classical “Live High–Train High” (LHTH) altitude training increases swim-specific VO2max through increased hemoglobin mass (Hbmass). Methods Ten swimmers lived and trained for more than 3 weeks between 2,130 and 3,094 m of altitude, and a control group of ten swimmers followed the same training at sea-level (SL). Body composition was examined using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Hbmass was determined by carbon monoxide rebreathing. Swimming VO2peak was determined
Communicated by David C. Poole. T. C. Bonne · S. R. Bech · N. B. Nordsborg (*) Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark e-mail: [email protected] C. Lundby Zurich Center of Integrative Human Physiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland S. Jørgensen · L. Johansen National Test Center, Team Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark M. Mrgan Department of Endocrinology, Hospital of Southwest Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark M. Sander Department of Cardiology, The Copenhagen Muscle Research Center and Flight Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark M. Papoti Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil
and swimming trials of 4 × 50, 200 and 3,000 m were performed before and after the intervention. Results Hbmass (n = 10) was increased (P 3 weeks at an altitude of >2,000 m to gain physiological adaptations with importance for performance (Saunders et al. 2009). In swimmers, LHTH increases Hbmass ~4–7 % after 2–4 weeks at ~2,000 m (Friedmann et al. 2005; Robach et al. 2006; Gough et al. 2012). However, swimming VO2max is unaffected after 13 days at 1,850 m (Roels et al. 2006) and after 13 days of “Live High–Train Low” (LHTL) despite increased hemoglobin mass (Robach et al. 2006). Importantly, in the studies evaluating swimming VO2max, altitude as well as duration was below the recommended (Saunders et al. 2009). Generally, insufficient altitude, duration and lack of a control group are a major concern in numerous previous investigations related to altitude training (Lundby et al. 2012). Thus, one primary aim of the present study was to evaluate whether more than 3 weeks of altitude training above 2,200 m can induce increased Hbmass and discipline-specific VO2max in world-class swimmers as compared to high-level swimmers engaging in a similar training camp at SL.
13
Eur J Appl Physiol (2014) 114:1439–1449
Athletes will likely engage in altitude training if there is even a small chance for a performance enhancing effect. In swimmers, several studies have failed to detect a performance enhancing effect of altitude training. LHTH for 28 days at ~2,200 m in world-class swimmers increased Hbmass but failed to increase performance as evaluated at competitive swim races 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after returning to SL (Gough et al. 2012). No SL training camp control group was included in that study, but a season-long comparison between swimmers engaging in mid-season altitude training and swimmers training at SL also failed to show any performance enhancing effect of altitude training. In young swimmers aged ~16 years, 3 weeks training at ~2,200 m improved performance when evaluated as maximal speed reached in a stepwise increasing swimming speed test (Friedmann et al. 2005). Thus, it may be speculated that the exercise protocol used for evaluation of performance is of high importance. In the competitive setting, all performance determining factors such as environment, psychological factors and physiological capacity will influence performance, and therefore, it may be difficult to detect the possible effect of altitude training. In the present study, performance is evaluated in three different ways in order to maximize the possibility to detect relevant performance effects. Two primary hypotheses were evaluated in the present study: In world-class swimmers prolonged training at altitude causes (1) increased Hbmass that results in increased swimming-specific VO2max; (2) improved performance when evaluated as the ability to complete swimming-specific tests.
Methods Ten swimmers from the Danish Olympic swimming team (5 female, 5 male) were selected for a LHTH training camp by the national team coach (LHTH). Ten swimmers from a national swimming club competing at international and national elite level (6 female, 4 male) were selected for a SL training camp. Mean age was 19.3 ± 2.0 and 22.5 ± 3.3 years, mean height 177 ± 6 and 180 ± 6 cm and weight 72.0 ± 9.9 and 73.6 ± 9.6 kg for the SL and LHTH group, respectively. The study was approved by The Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics according to the Helsinki Declaration. All subjects were informed of any potential risks involved in the study before giving informed consent. Study design The protocol is illustrated in Fig. 1. Seven swimmers from the LHTH group initially traveled to Leadville, CO, USA
Eur J Appl Physiol (2014) 114:1439–1449
1441
Fig. 1 Schematic overview of protocol. Each measurement is listed in boxes. (1) and (2) Number of measurements used for determining Hbmass. W-2 and W-1 are 2 weeks before the intervention (baseline); W1–W4 denote weeks into the intervention. W1POST and W2POST denote the post-intervention testing period
(3,094 m above SL) for 1 week (W1) of altitude training. For logistic reasons, the remaining three swimmers remained at their usual training facility and performed the same amount of training as the rest of the group. From week 2 (W2) to week 4 (W4) all ten LHTH swimmers lived and trained in Flagstaff, AZ, USA at 2,130 m above SL. For the SL group, W1 was performed at their usual training facility while following same training plan as the LHTH group. To control for a possible “training camp effect” in the LHTH group, the SL group completed a SL training camp from W2 to W4 in Malaga, Spain. In addition to in water training, both groups completed 6 h/week of strength training. Both groups underwent performance testing and measurement of Hbmass at SL within 2 weeks of departure and within 1 week of return from the training camp. All hematological and performance-related measurements were carried out at the swimmers usual training facilities. Swimming performance was assessed in a 50-m pool (26.5 °C) at each group’s respective training facility. Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were conducted in either the nearby university (LHTH group) or hospital (SL group). During both training camps, swimmers had access to food and drinks ad libitum. Further, carbohydrate-rich drinks were available during training. It was ensured that none of the swimmers lost body weight by weight controls at least every 5th day. Training Both groups followed the same training guidelines (Fig. 2). Training guidelines were exclusively provided by the national team coach of the LHTH group. The
Fig. 2 Training load is given in km/week and divided into four different training intensity zones for the SL group (clear bars, n = 10) and LHTH group (crossed bars, n = 10). Specific distance for the various intensities over the period was for SL: recovery 87 km, aerobic 412 km, anaerobic 70 km, sprint 20 km and for LHTH: recovery 82 km, aerobic 422 km, anaerobic 61 km, sprint 25 km
primary competition after LHTH was more than 1 month later. The same training guidelines were followed by the SL group. Training was registered in four intensity zones. Briefly, “recovery” was defined as intensities at
