Abstract

SPIELVOGEL, Hilde et al. Fútbol en la altura en Bolivia. Cuad. - Hosp. Clín. [online]. 2009, vol.54, n.1, pp.3-9. ISSN 1562-6776.

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted as response to the third veto by FIFA against playing eliminatory football games for FIFA World Cups at altitudes above 2500 m. The aim of the study took into account FIFA´s preoccupations with regard to the health of the football players and concerning igual opportunities for physical performance when playing at high altitude. Consequently, a comparative study was conducted of two football teams, one acclimatized to the altitude of La Paz (3600 m) (HAT, 10 players), and the second one living and training at an altitude close to sealevel (60 m) (LAT, 10 players). Both teams were examined in the laboratories of he Instituto Boliviano de Biología de Altura (IBBA) and at an altitude close to sealevel (Hotel América, Santa Cruz, 420 m). Health was assessed applying the Lake Louise scoring system for Acute Altitude Sickness as well as by measuring pulmonary function and by assessing systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs) using the Echo Doppler technique. The physical capacity was measured by a progressive maximal exercise test on a treadmill with determination of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and related parameters. The results showed a VO2max somewhat higher at high altitude in HAT than in LAT. PAPs was significantly higher at high than at low altitude in both teams. We propose an acclimatization time of 72 hours previous to football games in La Paz based on statistics that took into account the results of the games in relation to the time of the stay in La Paz.

Keywords : High altitude; lung function; systolic pulmonary artery pressure; maximal oxygen uptake; acclimatized football team; non-acclimatized football team.

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