Effects of Alternating Altitude Training Versus Fixed-Altitude Training on Exercise Capacity and Physiological Adaptations in Elite Race Walkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of Alternating Altitude Training Versus Fixed-Altitude Training on Physical Performance and Physiological Adaptations in Elite Race Walkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of alternating altitude training and fixed-altitude training on physical performance and physiological adaptations in elite race walkers living at altitude. Elite race walkers from Yunnan Province will be randomly assigned to either an alternating altitude training group or a fixed-altitude training group. The alternating altitude training group will perform selected training sessions under simulated higher-altitude conditions while completing the remaining sessions at their regular altitude training base. The fixed-altitude training group will complete all training sessions at the regular altitude. Physical performance, race walking performance, cardiovascular function, pulmonary function, and hematological parameters will be assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate the effectiveness of the two altitude training strategies.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Altitude Training; Race Walking
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Alternating Altitude Training; Behavioral: Fixed-Altitude Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Binghong Gao; Phone Number: +853 8591 2000; Email: research_ethics@ipm.edu.mo

Study Locations

• China
  • Macao, China
    • Recruiting
    • Macao Polytechnic University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao, China
    • Contact: Chaoran Han; Phone Number: +853 8591 2000; Email: hanchaoran1999@outlook.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female elite race walkers aged 16-26 years. Registered athletes from the Yunnan Provincial Race Walking Team. Long-term residents of high-altitude regions with regular altitude training experience.

Healthy and medically cleared to participate in high-intensity training and hypoxic exposure.

Able to complete the prescribed training program and all outcome assessments. Provided written informed consent before enrollment. For participants younger than 18 years, written informed consent will also be obtained from a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, neurological, or other medical condition contraindicating exercise or hypoxic exposure.

Musculoskeletal injury or illness affecting normal training or performance within the previous three months.

Current use of medications or supplements that may substantially influence physiological adaptation or exercise performance.

Failure to complete the intervention or outcome assessments according to the study protocol.

Withdrawal of informed consent at any time during the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Alternating Altitude Training; Participants perform the prescribed training program using an alternating altitude strategy, with selected training sessions conducted under simulated higher-altitude conditions and the remaining sessions completed at the regular altitude training base.	Behavioral: Alternating Altitude Training; Participants complete the prescribed training program using an alternating altitude strategy, combining regular altitude training with selected sessions performed under simulated higher-altitude conditions.
Active Comparator: Fixed-Altitude Training; Participants perform the same prescribed training program entirely at the regular altitude training base throughout the intervention.	Behavioral: Fixed-Altitude Training; Participants complete the prescribed training program exclusively at the regular altitude training base.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Weight	Body weight measured before and after the training period.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Body Fat Percentage	Body fat percentage measured using bioelectrical impedance or other validated method.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)	Forced vital capacity measured using spirometry before and after the intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Maximal Voluntary Ventilation	MVV measured using standard pulmonary function testing protocol pre- and post-intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Left Ventricular Volume	Echocardiography measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Ejection Fraction	Echocardiography assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction pre- and post-training.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Myocardial Thickness	Measurement of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall thickness by echocardiography.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Maximal Oxygen Uptake	Pre- and post-intervention measurement of VO₂max using standard exercise testing protocol to assess aerobic capacity	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Countermovement Jump Height	Countermovement jump (CMJ) height measured using a validated force platform or jump assessment system to evaluate lower-limb explosive power before and after the intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Squat Jump Height	Squat jump (SJ) height measured using a validated force platform or jump assessment system to assess concentric lower-limb explosive strength before and after the intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Peak Force	Peak force during the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) measured using a force platform to assess maximal isometric lower-limb strength before and after the intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Rate of Force Development	Rate of force development (RFD) during the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) measured using a force platform before and after the intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Reactive Strength Index (RSI)	Reactive Strength Index (RSI) calculated from repeated ankle hops using a force platform or validated jump assessment system to assess lower-limb reactive strength before and after the intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Red Blood Cell Count	RBC count measured from venous blood samples pre- and post-intervention.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Hemoglobin	Hemoglobin concentration measured from venous blood samples.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Hematocrit	Hemoglobin concentration measured from venous blood samples.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.
Erythropoietin	Plasma EPO concentration measured from venous blood samples.	Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Macao Polytechnic University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 5, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 5, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 14, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: AAT-RW-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No