Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) and Altitude Simulation
  • Russians developed altitude training for pilots in 1940’s
  • Discovered that continuous high altitude exposure was unnecessary & inefficient
  • Daily, short 1-hr exposures for 15 days were more effective
  • Developed similar schedules for endurance athletes in 1970's
  • Increased red blood cell count & stamina, beneficial effects lasted over 2 weeks
  • Improved aerobic conditioning & athletic performance for their Olympic program
Other Altitude Simulators
Hypobaric Chamber
  • Vacuum chamber mimics high altitude
  • Enter for 8 hrs a day for 30 days
  • Expensive ($13K) claustrophobic, noisy,
    requires power, not portable
Electric Hypoxicator (Go2Altitude, Hypoxico)
  • Mechanical, electric oxygen scrubber
  • Achieves high altitude, use 1 hr a day,
  • Not portable, heavy, inconvenient
  • Expensive ($6K)
The History of Altitude Training and AltoLab
  • Kip Keino “Father” of altitude training
  • Lived/trained at 6000’ in Kenya
  • Won 1500 m Gold in ‘68 Mexico City Olympics
  • Won 3000 m Steeplechase in ‘72 Munich Olympics
  • Live & train at 5000-8000’ for 3-5 weeks
  • May increase aerobic capacity, but detrimental to some
  • Poor muscle recovery, constant fatigue
  • Inconvenient & too expensive for many
  • Sleep at 5000-8000’ nightly, train at 2500-3000’ daily
  • Inconvenient, expensive, requires 3-5 weeks
  • Some do not respond
Mexico Olympics 1968
1970’s Live High/Train High
1990 Live High/Train Low