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[THREAD] – Challenges of playing top-level football at a high altitude
This thread will focus on the physiological challenges of playing professional football at high altitudes as an UNACCLIMATISED athlete.
This thread will focus on the physiological challenges of playing professional football at high altitudes as an UNACCLIMATISED athlete.
Tonight, Argentina will play against Bolivia in La Paz, Bolivia, located at a crazy altitude of 3637m (11,938ft) above sea level.
There are so many areas that can be covered about exercise at an altitude but I will focus on a few main and easier to understand ones.
There are so many areas that can be covered about exercise at an altitude but I will focus on a few main and easier to understand ones.
The main challenge of exercising at high altitudes stems from the reduced amount of oxygen available at higher altitudes. As atmospheric pressure is lower at higher altitudes, air is less dense, resulting in a lower amount of oxygen available in the air.
With a decreased amount of oxygen available, saturation of oxyhaemoglobin is reduced, reducing oxygen transport around the body (oxygen is transported in the bloodstream by binding with haemoglobin, forming oxyhaemoglobin).
Due to the reduced amount oxygen in the air, pressure of oxygen in the arteries is lower than at sea level, causing a lower diffusion gradient, reducing the rate of oxygen diffusion into the muscles.
As a whole, oxygen transport around the body is LARGELY reduced.
As a whole, oxygen transport around the body is LARGELY reduced.
As a result of the decreased oxygen transport, hyperventilation occurs in an attempt to supply working muscles with the required amount of oxygen.
During hyperventilation, more water is lost from the body, causing a drop in plasma volume, reducing aerobic power and performance.
During hyperventilation, more water is lost from the body, causing a drop in plasma volume, reducing aerobic power and performance.
The heart also has to beat faster and harder to compensate for the reduced amount of oxygen [see how the heart rate is much higher at increased altitudes while the amount of oxygen consumed remains the same].
As a result, the athlete fatigues faster, reducing performance.
![The heart also has to beat faster and harder to compensate for the reduced amount of oxygen [see how the heart rate is much higher at increased altitudes while the amount of oxygen consumed remains the same]. As a result, the athlete fatigues faster, reducing performance.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkOrzgDVcAARUWa.jpg "The heart also has to beat faster and harder to compensate for the reduced amount of oxygen [see how the heart rate is much higher at increased altitudes while the amount of oxygen consumed remains the same]. As a result, the athlete fatigues faster, reducing performance.")
As a result, the athlete fatigues faster, reducing performance.
Additionally, with a decreased amount of oxygen available, the athlete’s VO2max (the maximum amount of oxygen the body can uptake) is decreased, further affecting performance [see photo for changes in vo2 max at increased altitudes].
![Additionally, with a decreased amount of oxygen available, the athlete’s VO2max (the maximum amount of oxygen the body can uptake) is decreased, further affecting performance [see photo for changes in vo2 max at increased altitudes].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkOsCDaU0AAJ1j2.jpg "Additionally, with a decreased amount of oxygen available, the athlete’s VO2max (the maximum amount of oxygen the body can uptake) is decreased, further affecting performance [see photo for changes in vo2 max at increased altitudes].")
Apart from the physiological challenges of exercising at high altitudes, hypoxic responses such as altitude sickness or high altitude pulmonary oedema may occur, which can be life-threatening.
The effects of high altitude coupled with the extremely physical South America qualifying games shows just how physically demanding the Argentina game tonight will be. Hope the players are acclimatising well, and the game goes well today. Safety above all. VAMOS ARGENTINA
It’s my first attempt at making a thread so apologies if it’s not the best
Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Tough tough game tonight for Argentina, let’s see how it goes!
Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Tough tough game tonight for Argentina, let’s see how it goes!
@golazoargentino Hey guys, check this thread out! Really shows how physically gruelling the match against Bolivia was tonight.
