Exercise and altitude

In studies concerned with the performance at high altitude it is often not possible to separate the effects which are due to hypoxia from those associated with the stress of ascent. Some of the basic observations concerning exercise at high altitude are reviewed and a study is described which was designed to simulate the physical exertion of high altitude mountaineering but performed at altitudes below 1000 m. Some of the changes observed including peripheral oedema might under other circumstances have been ascribed to altitude.