FEMALES DO NOT EXHAUST AS QUICKLY AT ALTITUDE AS DO MALES

Fulco, C. S., Rock, P. B., Muza, S. R., Lammi, E., Moore, L. G., Beidleman, B. A., Lewis, S. G., & Cymerman, A. (1997). Adductor pollicis muscle fatigue in women during acute altitude exposure. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(5), Supplement abstract 776.

Large muscle exercise performance is impaired during acute altitude exposure but there is limited information of effects on smaller muscle groups. The authors previously observed that maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was not impaired in men but that exhaustion during submaximal adductor pollicis (small muscle) exercise occurred more quickly at altitude than at sea level.

Women (N = 15) were studied at sea-level and within 24 hours of exposure to 4,300 m (13,000 feet).

It was found that at acute altitude without adaptation:

Implication. The response of small muscle dynamics of women at acute altitude is similar in some respects to men, but women are able to replicate sea-level time to exhaustion performances. Men fatigue easier at altitude when performing small muscle exercises.

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