Influence of various degrees of normobaric hypoxia on the physical working capacity of a person

Man’s performance of various tasks in mountainous terrain often involves a high-intensity physical load. The influence of an artificial gas medium depleted in oxygen content (corresponding to an altitude of 2500 m above sea level) on the physical working capacity of a person under normal atmospheric pressure was studied. It has been established that the exercise of the veloergometric load of the stepwise increasing power (PWC170 sample) under these conditions leads to the development of mild hypoxic hypoxia, manifested in a decrease in oxygen saturation and an increase in the heart rate with unchanged bloodpressure and working efficiency. Finding a person in conditions of an artificial gas medium corresponding to an oxygen content of 4500 m above sea level at a normal barometric pressure is accompanied by the development of a moderate degree of hypoxic hypoxia with a more pronounced decrease in oxygen saturation and an increase in the heart rate. During the performance of the veloergometric test under these conditions, the PWC170 sample index decreases 1,4 times compared to the background indicators. The received results testify that the development of acute normobaric hypoxia of mild degree does not render essential influenceon physical working capacity of the person, and moderate hypoxia - reduces it. The proposed method can be used to assess the influence of various degrees of hypoxia on the tolerance of physical activity by a person and serve as one of the criteria for the professional selection of specialists for special purposes (military personnel, climbers, geologists, etc.), and to determine the degree of man’s readiness to perform tasks associated with exercise in the mountainous terrain.

hypoxia, adaptation, acclimatization, tolerance, working efficiency, physical activity, functional state, veloergometry