Paxinos, T. S., Pavlou, K. N., & Athanasopoulos, S. (1998). Acute exposure to medium altitude and its effect on the anaerobic threshold in children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 1512.

Blood lactate and heart rate anaerobic thresholds at sea level and after 48 hours at moderate altitude (2,030 m) were compared in young adolescents (M = 8; F = 4; age = 14 yr). An incremental cycle ergometer task was performed to exhaustion.

There were no differences in blood lactate or heart rate thresholds between altitudes. There was a strong correlation between the two thresholds at sea level but a poor relationship at altitude. Both thresholds were significantly different at both altitudes indicating they measured different attributes. Moderate altitude was associated with increased maximum blood lactate concentration.

Implication. Blood lactate and heart rate thresholds are not influenced by short-term exposure to moderate altitude in adolescents.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.