The Impact of Altitude on Rehabilitation
As many of us know, high altitudes can have a variety of effects on the body. The air is thinner at high altitudes, which means that there is less oxygen available for the body to use.
For those of us who have lived at altitude for many years, the impact of altitude is not as physically observable nor impactful. Typically, elevations >7,500ft (2,280m) are when the majority of healthy individuals notice the effects of altitude or suffer from transient altitude sickness. For reference, in Boulder we sit at 5318ft (1,620m), so most of us living or visiting the area will not notice the impacts at low levels of exertion.
However, for those engaging in weekend mountaineering trips or ski adventures, the further increase in elevation can produce transient physiological implications that may impact rehab programs and training in the short term, especially if performed at those altitudes. For example, there is an 18% decrease in O2 when traveling from Denver to Vail. Therefore, if you are doing your rehab program during your ski weekend, you might notice the exercises are more difficult or you fatigue quicker. If you stayed at that altitude for 2-weeks your body would adapt and those symptoms would dissipate.
Some of the symptoms include:
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Dizziness
Headaches
Dehydration
As I’m sure you can imagine, these symptoms are not fun. In addition, high altitudes can also cause changes in the body's fluid balance leading to increased fluid retention. This can lead to swelling and increased blood volume making it more difficult for the body to regulate its temperature, affecting blood flow to the muscles, which can make certain exercises and activities more challenging.
For those living at high altitude, these symptoms will dissipate over time as your body increases your red blood cell count and is more effective at dealing with the conditions. Altitude can also improve heart functionality and enhance muscle performance. Sounds pretty cool to me!
But what does this mean for individuals undergoing rehabilitation? Can high altitudes affect the success of their rehabilitation programs?
My conclusion: not likely
Unless you only plan to do your rehab program when you travel to a significantly higher altitude and then return lower altitude for all other activities, there is not likely anything to be concerned with in terms of your rehab program.
As a good rule of thumb, make sure you’re drinking enough water to stay hydrated and listen to your body. If you have any concerns or want to learn more, contact us at: info@atomicpt or book HERE for a free consultation!
