9ba6e5f6-83a9-4305-b2e9-3285430ea30e eng Ev-K2-CNR +39 035 3230511 +39 035 3230551 Via San Bernardino 145 Bergamo BG 24126 Italy metadata@evk2cnr.org http://www.evk2cnr.org/ 2011-10-26T16:28:52 ISO 19115:2003/19139 1.0 High-altitude exposure reduces inspiratory muscle strength. 2007-01-10T00:00:00 International journal of sports medicine 2007 May;28(5):426-30 0172-4622 It was the aim of the study to assess the maximal pressure generated by the inspiratory muscles (MIP) during exposure to different levels of altitude (i.e., hypobaric hypoxia). Eight lowlanders (2 females and 6 males), aged 27 - 46 years, participated in the study. After being evaluated at sea level, the subjects spent seven days at altitudes of more than 3000 metres. On the first day, they rode in a cable car from 1200 to 3200 metres and performed the first test after 45 - 60 minutes rest; they then walked for two hours to a mountain refuge at 3600 metres, where they spent three nights (days 2 - 3); on day 4, they walked for four hours over a glacier to reach Capanna Regina Margherita (4559 m), where they spent days 5 - 7. MIP, flow-volume curve and SpO (2) % were measured at each altitude, and acute mountain sickness (Lake Louise score) was recorded. Increasing altitude led to a significant decrease in resting SpO (2) % (from 98 % to 80 %) and MIP (from 134 to 111 cmH (2)O) (baseline to day 4: p < 0.05); there was an improvement in SpO (2) % and a slight increase in MIP during the subsequent days at the same altitude. Expiratory (but not inspiratory) flows increased, and forced vital capacity and FEF (75) decreased at higher altitudes. We conclude that exposure to high altitude hypoxia reduces the strength of the respiratory muscles, as demonstrated by the reduction in MIP and the lack of an increase in peak inspiratory flows. This reduction is more marked during the first days of exposure to the same altitude, and tends to recover during the acclimatisation process. Valter Fasano Institute of Diseases of the Respiratory System Via F.Sforza, 35 Milano MI 20122 Italy valter.fasano@unimi.it www.unimi.it Annalisa Cogo Biomedical Research Centre applied to sport, University of Ferrara +39 0532 210420 +39 0532 455888 +39 0532 210297 Via Gramicia, 35 Ferrara FE 44123 Italy annalisa.cogo@unife.it http://www.unife.it/centri/centro/studi-biomedici Luca Pomidori Department of Biomedical sciences and advanced therapies, University of Ferrara +39 3287858417 Corso Giovecca, 203 Ferrara FE 44100 Italy pmdlcu@unife.it http://www.unife.it/ E. Paolucci https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/resources.get?uuid=9ba6e5f6-83a9-4305-b2e9-3285430ea30e&fname=mountain_witness__s.png thumbnail png SHARE Muscle Strength High Altitude eng health 6.62397 18.5144 36.6492 47.0946 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17024649 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--related Abstract:"High-altitude exposure reduces inspiratory muscle strength." “High-altitude exposure reduces inspiratory muscle strength.” Fasano V, Paolucci E, Pomidori L, Cogo A. Int J Sports Med. 2007 May;28(5):426-30. Epub 2006 Oct 6. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Respiratory Disease, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.