Effects of a 4-Week Altitude Training on Sport-Specific Performance, Body Composition, and Cardiac and Pulmonary Function in Adolescent Male Rowers

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

4-Week Altitude Training: Participants undergo a 4-week altitude training program, including aerobic, anaerobic, and sport-specific rowing exercises. Both Post-PHV and Mid-PHV groups receive the same training protocol. Pre- and post-training assessments include athletic performance, athletic body composition, athletic cardiac and pulmonary function, and hematological markers. Participants are stratified by biological maturation (PHV offset) to explore whether maturity influences training adaptations.

Study summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of a 4-week altitude training program on adolescent male rowers. The research will examine changes in athletic performance, athletic body composition, athletic cardiac function, athletic pulmonary function, and selected blood markers. Participants will be stratified by biological maturation based on peak height velocity to explore whether maturity influences athletic training adaptations. Measurements will include non-invasive assessments of athletic performance, athletic body composition, athletic heart and lung function, as well as venous blood sampling for hematological markers. The study intends to provide evidence for optimizing high-altitude training strategies in youth rowing.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Peak Power During Wingate Test — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Peak power measured during the Wingate anaerobic test before and after the intervention.
• Maximal Oxygen Uptake — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Pre- and post-intervention measurement of VO₂max using standard exercise testing protocol to assess aerobic capacity in adolescent male rowers.
• Mean Power Output During 1500 m Rowing Test — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Mean power output measured during the 1500 m rowing ergometer test before and after the intervention.
• Body Weight — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Body weight measured before and after the training period.
• Body Fat Percentage — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Body fat percentage measured using bioelectrical impedance or other validated method.
• Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Forced vital capacity measured using spirometry before and after the intervention.
• Maximal Voluntary Ventilation — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  MVV measured using standard pulmonary function testing protocol pre- and post-intervention.
• Left Ventricular Volume — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Echocardiography measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume.
• Ejection Fraction — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Echocardiography assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction pre- and post-training.
• Myocardial Thickness — Pre-training and immediately post 4-week altitude training
  Measurement of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall thickness by echocardiography.

Trial sites (1)

More Macao Polytechnic University trials in China