"LIVING HIGH-TRAINING LOW" ALTITUDE TRAINING ON IMPROVEMENT OF SEA LEVEL HEMOGLOBIN/HEMATOCRIC IN MALE AND FEMALE ELITE SWIMMERS

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of "living high-training low" altitude on improvement of sea level hemoglobin and hematocric in male and female elite swimmers. A total of ten elite swimmers at the international and national level was recruited and randomly divided into two groups, altitude training group and control group. The athletes in altitude training group lived high condition while training at sea level for three weeks. The altitude was set at 2,800m. The all subjects in both groups accepted same training in the intensity, frequency and duration. Hemoglobin and hematocric were measured at sea level on seven occasions, the day before starting the experiment, during the period of experiment and the day completing the experiment. The results showed that the hemoglobin and hematocric in altitude training group increased 8.6% and had significant difference compared with those before the experiment. While the level of hemoglobin and hematocric in control group did not show any obvious change. "Living high-training low" altitude training can significantly improve the level of hemoglobin and hematocric.