THE IMPACT OF ALTITUDE TRAINING ON LUNG ADAPTATION AND ENDURANCE IMPROVEMENT IN ELITE VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES

Altitude training above sea level is an effective method for enhancing aerobic capacity and endurance in elite athletes, especially in sports that demand high performance, such as volleyball. This study aims to examine the impact of altitude training on lung adaptation and improvement of physiological indicators, such as pulmonary capacity, VO2 max, and concentrations of hemoglobin and erythropoietin (EPO), in a group of 20 professional volleyball players. The athletes were divided into two groups: an experimental group of 10 volleyball players trained at altitude (2000 m above sea level) for 4 weeks, while the control group of 10 volleyball players continued regular training at sea level. The results showed that the experimental group achieved significant improvements in pulmonary capacity (+12%), VO2 max (+15%), and levels of hemoglobin and EPO compared to the control group. These findings suggest that altitude training may help elite volleyball players enhance endurance and performance during intensive activities. The benefits of altitude training can be integrated into training programs for athletes seeking increased aerobic capacity and overall performance improvement.