Abstract

ESPEJO ALIAGA, ELVA EUGENIA  and  UNIVERSIDAD MAYOR DE SAN ANDRES et al. Rendimiento físico a grandes alturas: Diferencia entre sujetos entrenados (Ciclistas) y no entrenados (Sedentarios). Ciencia y Medicina [online]. 2004, vol.5, pp. 04-07. ISSN 1816-2908.

The present study was conducted in the Instituto Boliviano de Biología de Altura (Bolivian Institu-te of Altitude Biology). We measured maximal oxy-gen uptake (V02max, aerobic capacity) by the open circuit method as expression of physical work capacity in aerobically trained subjects (cyclists) and in untrained subjects (sedentary men) with the purpose to assess the differences between both groups and to compare the results with the fin-dings reported at sea level. Eventhough in La Paz (3600 m), a variety of studies in athletes and untrained subjects has been reported, there does not, to our knowledge, exist a comparative study. Our results show that also at high altitude, trained subjects show a higher aerobic capacity than untrained subjects but in comparison with cyclists at sea level, physical work capacity and aerobic capacíty are smaller at high altitude.

Keywords : Capacidad aeróbica; rendimiento físico; gran altura; hipoxia hipobarica.