As published in the International Society for Mountain Medicine Volume 6, Number 1, Winter 1996.
Bolivia and particularly La Paz, has been shocked
these days by a
determination of the South American Football
Confederation, who
by suggestion of the International Association
of Football
(FIFA), has decided that the World Cup Football
playoffs cannot
be carried out on Stadiums above 3000 m. of altitude,
specifically in the city of La Paz.
Putting aside reasonable arguments such as why
keep calling it
World Cup, we would like the opinion of world
experts in sports,
such as the members of the International Society
of Mountain
Medicine with respect to the following:
1) Can football (soccer) be practiced safely in
the 50,000 people
stadium of La Paz at 3600 m above sea level?
2) Is it reasonable to isolate high altitude residents
from
competing in their own natural habitat?
3) Are there any permanent lesions for sportsmen
performing at
high altitude?
4) When do we differentiate altitude from extreme altitude ?
5) Does high altitude affect sportsmen and sedentary
people in
the same way?
We have recently tested a Mexican Marathonist
(female, 33 years
old, weight 61 kilos) that came to La Paz in
order to train at
high altitude for one month, as previous marathonists
have done
before with successful results. On the same day
of arrival, she
was tested with a Modified USAFM protocol (mph/slope=
0/0,2/0,3/0,3/5,3/10,4/10,4/10,4/10,4/10), achieving
a sub-
maximal oxygen consumption (VO2=43 ml/Kg/min),
reaching 7 METS
and maintaining an intense rhythm at 4 MPH and
10% slope during
the last 12 minutes. She preserved her respiratory
quotient,
starting at 0.92 immediately before exercise
and reaching 1.04 in
the most intense level. Her pulse increased to
151 bpm reaching
80 % of the sea level maximum calculated cardiac
frequency. She
could have continued with the test.
We arrived to the conclusion that if a 33 year
old marathonist is
able to perform this test so successfully upon
arrival, then
football, that requires less permanent activity
is feasible up to
any altitude where it is practiced regularly
by large populations
such as in La Paz at 3600 meters above sea level.
High altitude researchers go to extreme altitudes
in order to
study the effects of hypobaric hypoxia and sportsmen
can't play
football at 3600 m where millions of people live?
We are aware that there are multiple undetermined
factors
affecting physical capacity during hypoxia, but
in this matter,
high altitude has to be differentiated from extreme
altitude.
From many years of experience we have noticed
that high altitude
sportsmen also have difficulties when going to
perform at sea
level. Some have ankle edema, are sleepy and
their reflexes are
diminished. It is interesting to note that Hoppeler
concluded
that "high altitude residents have a reduced
VO2 max which is not
corrected in acute normoxia", in the abstract
'Relating muscle
structure and performance capacity to living
and exercising at
high altitude' during his presentation in the
First World
Congress on High Altitude Medicine and Physiology
1994. Football
practice of high altitude sportsmen upon arrival
at sea level
needs further research.
We are aware that opinions will be varied, but
please be aware
that all human beings whether inhabitants of
sea level or the
high mountains are residents of the same planet,
and should be
considered the same, with the same rights and
privileges.
Gustavo Zubieta Jr.
Gustavo Zubieta Sr.
High Altitude Pathology Institute (IPPA)
La Paz, Bolivia
You can contact us at zubieta@altitudeclinic.com
