Ogita, F., & Tabata, I. (2000). Aerobic and anaerobic energy release during supramaximal swimming at different levels of hypobaric hypoxia. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(5), Supplement abstract 1699.

This study investigated aerobic and anaerobic energy release during supramaximal swimming at different levels of hypobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude). College swimmers (N = 6) performed a 2-3 minute maximum swim in a flume in a hypobaric chamber at four levels of simulated altitude (sea level, 800 m, 1,600 m, 2,400 m). O2 deficit and O2 uptake were determined at every 30-s interval of each swim.

Flume velocity (a.k.a. swimming velocity) decreased significantly with each altitude, even at 800 m, which usually is not considered to have an "altitude effect." Mean values of O2 uptake decreased at each 30-s interval with each increase in altitude. There was no significant difference for total O2 deficit level between any two altitudes, although the highest values were recorded at sea level.

Implication. Performing at altitude will have little effect on anaerobic energy release but does have a significant decrease effect on aerobic energy release with each succeeding level of altitude.

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