The truth on Elevation Training Masks: *** Disclaimer*** Keep in mind I am a scientist who works out so facts are more important than emotionally vomiting my opinions on the group. That said, I get the masks intent but calling it Elevation Training is false! heres #FACTS: First of all, the air we breathe at sea level is approximately 20.9% Oxygen, 78.9% Nitrogen , a combined amount just under 0.97% Argon and C02 with the remainder being small amounts of other gases. As you ascend in altitude the air becomes thinner with the tropospheres constituents decreasing proportionately ,resulting in a Hypoxic or oxygen deficient air supply. Hypoxia is a state occurring in humans where there is insufficient oxygen supply to meet demand. Being the wondrous machine it is, the body makes changes and adaptations in order to meet the demand placed upon it starting with increased heart rate, frequency and depth of breathing, vasodilation and increased capillarization to better carry oxygenated blood , pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction directing blood flow to the gas exchange site (the alveoli) , increased VO2max, mitochondria efficiency, power output and energy production plus a signaled increase in natural EPO production in the kidneys. There are 3 levels of altitude as identified by the International Society for Mountain Medicine with the oxygen content decreasing as ascension in altitude is made. For example, if you were in the town of Eldoret, Kenya, home of world champion long distance runners, you will find yourself at 2400m above sea level with an atmospheric oxygen content of around 14.5%. As you ascend in altitude your blood oxygen saturation (SaO2%) drops with the hypoxic response occurring, however products like these masks will not cause your SaO2% to drop to the levels associated with high altitude training even under the most intense exercise as there is no alteration to the amount of oxygen passing through the mask and into your lungs. It doesnt take a medical degree to know that if youre at sea level, breathing sea level air (20.9% oxygen) through a restrictive device, the air coming through it and available to you is still going to be of 20.9% oxygen content. So how do products like this simulate altitude training as they claim? Quite simply, they dont. Which brings me to the point of what they actually do. Products like these are essentially diaphragm training devices. As they force you to draw deeper breaths you learn to use your diaphragm better whilst also building its strength as it works against the RESISTANCE CREATED BY THE FILTERS. That is all they do. Your oxygen processing will slightly improve with diaphragm training but only because of 1: retraining your breathing muscles by shifting focus from intercostal breathing to diaphragmatic and 2: the larger air volume you are able to take in with greater ease as a result of strengthening the diaphragm and using it in a controlled manner. *** Now for my opinion *** Take a yoga class (or one singing lesson) and learn how to breathe properly through the diaphragm. OR spend money on said mask but be sure to wear it ALL THE TIME (even work and especially on dates). Or gains will be nominal. Thank you for your time! https://youtube/watch?v=hp-gCvW8PRY
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 03:17:23 +0000
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