Modern methodological approaches to the assessment of hypoxia tolerance and physical working capacity prediction in the mountains (literature review)

Abstract

To this date, the issue of methods development for evaluation of human physical tolerance to exercises in the mountains remains relevant. In this regard, the authors consider the current methodological approaches to the assessment of hypoxia tolerance: methods based on recording of changes in genetic and biochemical hypoxia markers; functional tests (Stange’s, Serkin’s, Rosenthal’s tests, etc.), accompanied by short-term acute hypoxia, with and without respect to anthropometric data; methods for evaluation of hypoxia tolerance based on breathing the oxygen-reduced air without performing physical exercise (anoxic hypoxia, hypobaric hypoxia) and with it (anoxic hypoxia and “load” hypoxia). Based on the results of the analysis of literature data, the main positive and negative aspects of these methods are noted, and the need to develop a methodology that includes a full assessment of the response of the cardiorespiratory system under hypoxic conditions using cardiopulmonary exercise testing is shown.

Keywords

• acute mountain disease
• hypoxia
• hypoxia tolerance
• hif1 α
• vo2max
• physical working capacity under hypoxia
• cardiopulmonary exercise testing
• aerobic capacity for work