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Cited by 37High Altitude and HypoxiaSports Performance and TrainingCardiovascular and exercise physiology

An attempt to quantify the placebo effect from a three-week simulated altitude training camp in elite race walkers

Saunders, Philo U., Ahlgrim, Christoph, Vallance, Brent, Green, Daniel J., Robertson, Eileen Y., Clark, Sally A., Schumacher, Yorck O., Gore, Christopher J.·2010·International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
DOI 10.1123/ijspp.5.4.521
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Abstract

PURPOSE: To quantify physiological and performance effects of hypoxic exposure, a training camp, the placebo effect, and a combination of these factors. METHODS: Elite Australian and International race walkers (n = 17) were recruited, including men and women. Three groups were assigned: 1) Live High:Train Low (LHTL, n = 6) of 14 h/d at 3000 m simulated altitude; 2) Placebo (n = 6) of 14 h/d of normoxic exposure (600 m); and 3) Nocebo (n = 5) living in normoxia. All groups undertook similar training during the intervention. Physiological and performance measures included 10-min maximal treadmill distance, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), walking economy, and hemoglobin mass (Hbmass). RESULTS: Blinding failed, so the Placebo group was a second control group aware of the treatment. All three groups improved treadmill performance by approx. 4%. Compared with Placebo, LHTL increased Hbmass by 8.6% (90% CI: 3.5 to 14.0%; P = .01, very likely), VO2peak by 2.7% (-2.2 to 7.9%; P = .34, possibly), but had no additional improvement in treadmill distance (-0.8%, -4.6 to 3.8%; P = .75, unlikely) or economy (-8.2%, -24.1 to 5.7%; P = .31, unlikely). Compared with Nocebo, LHTL increased Hbmass by 5.5% (2.5 to 8.7%; P = .01, very likely), VO2peak by 5.8% (2.3 to 9.4%; P = .02, very likely), but had no additional improvement in treadmill distance (0.3%, -1.9 to 2.5%; P = .75, possibly) and had a decrease in walking economy (-16.5%, -30.5 to 3.9%; P = .04, very likely). CONCLUSION: Overall, 3-wk LHTL simulated altitude training for 14 h/d increased Hbmass and VO2peak, but the improvement in treadmill performance was not greater than the training camp effect.

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Authors
Saunders, P. U., Ahlgrim, C., Vallance, B., Green, D. J., Robertson, E. Y., Clark, S. A., Schumacher, Y. O., & Gore, C. J.
Affiliations
  • Australian Sports Commission (AU)
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • Flinders University (AU)
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Publisher
Human Kinetics
Published
2010-12
Volume
5
Issue
4
Pages
521-534
ISSN
  • 1555-0265 (ISSN-L)
  • 1555-0273
DOI
10.1123/ijspp.5.4.521
OpenAlex
W2171214130
Cited by
37
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
1.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Canberra Research Portal (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › High Altitude and Hypoxia
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
placebo effect, nocebo effect, simulated altitude training, live high-train low, hypoxic exposure, race walking, elite athletes, hemoglobin mass, peak oxygen uptake, walking economy, treadmill performance, training camp
MeSH terms
Adult, Altitude, Exercise Test, Female, Hemoglobins, Humans, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Endurance, Placebo Effect, Single-Blind Method, Walking

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