<b>Acclimatization at simulated altitude: effects on the heart rate and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in soccer players</b> - doi: 10.4025/reveducfis.v23i3.12585

Abstract

The acute exposure at altitude without previous acclimatization may cause sickness and decrease the sport and physical performance. This research aimed at verifying the effect of normobaric hypoxia sessions, at rest, on the Hemoglobin Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂) and the Heart Rate (HR) of professional soccer athletes. Thirteen athletes performed 15 sessions of hypoxia, 5-6 times a week, with 60 min of duration and with the fraction of inspired oxygen between 14 and 12%. The SpO₂ and HR were recorded every second during the first and the last session. In order to compare the SpO₂ and HR from the first session, last session and normoxia it was used the ANOVA with repeated measures. There was an increase in the SpO₂ (p<0.05) and a decreased HR (p<0.05) for the last session when compared to the first session. We conclude that the training protocol used in the acclimatization study improves the organism response to hypoxia.