Qualitative Study of Altitude Training on Cardio-Metabolic Responses to Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review

Altitude training has been recognized as an effective training strategy for performance optimization based off the various physiological adaptations which the human body gets acquainted to. Exposure to environment with reduced partial pressure of oxygen is believed to trigger various cardio-metabolic responses ranging from the stimulation of erythropoiesis, increased red blood cell mass to improved oxygen carrying capacity, all of which contributes significantly to optimum performance in endurance events. Factors that could serve as barriers towards stimulating responses alongside various forms of training conditions in hypoxic state have been explored by researchers in a bid to aid the attainment of peak performance by athletes. This paper highlights the various acute responses and chronic adaptations of altitude training on the cardio-metabolic indices necessary for optimum endurance-related performance while also pointing out factors, training methodologies and limitations, as well as dispositions of individual variability, when exposed to hypoxic environments