High Elevation Simulators

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INTRODUCTION:
It is no secret that that is above sea level, which is approximately 5000 feet and above are considered high elevation places. The higher the elevation the lower oxygen levels will be. Oxygen, as we know sustains life. The function of oxygen is to fuel one’s body, so essentially people who are more active require more oxygen to keep going. The question is how does a higher altitude effect athlete’s training and performance? It is a question that has been asked by trainers, coaches and athletes for many years and it was not until mid-1960 when Olympic distant teams from Africa and Mexico dominated events because they were fully adjusted before the 1968 Mexico City Games; soon after, altitude simulators popped-up everywhere (Amanda, …show more content…

High elevation training not only appeals to the elite athletes, but also the amateur and recreational competitors. In order to attain a higher elevation level training many countries, cities, companies, and people have attempted to build or create elevation simulators, which started in the mid 1970’s after the Mexico City Olympics. The first simulator was built by Russia for their piolets adjusted for athletes. “These simulators were big huts or houses where participants wore gas like masks. Although they increased aerobic capacity, they had poor muscle recovery, fatigue an expensive” (AltoLab). Soon there was the Hypobaric Chamber, a vacuum like chamber, an Electric Hypoxicator, which was an electric oxygen scrubber that was not very portable or convenient, and the Altitude Tent which caused claustrophobia, noisy, heavy, and not vey portable because it took up an entire room. In 2005, AltoLab was founded and invented a hand held altitude simulator which ranges from 2500 – 30,000 feet. This simulator may be used during an athlete’s season. However, it was a professional Mixed Martial Arts athlete who introduced the artificial elevation training mask which is most commonly used to date. Sean Sherk and Casey Danford came together to redesign the mask so it forces the lungs to work harder. In the same Cadillac article Sean Sherk says, “You’re fighting to get air in-and-out. Within two-weeks you start to feel comfortable …show more content…

It is because many have seen the positive outcome of those elite athletes who have both trained in and competed at a higher atmosphere and have been successful in their sport. Being the best competitors they can be. Along with trying to be the most dominant or the best competitor has brought on the responsibility of finding out what side effects these work outs will bring and if these side effects will do more damage than good. It has been acknowledged that training at a high elevation is not just for professional competitors, but is realistic type of training for all

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