Abstract des Autors

Inspir Air Corporation says that its $220 PO2 Aerobic Exerciser, a 4-lb backpack aparatus that resembles a scuba tank, can simulate training at altitude by recycling the air a runner breathes, resulting in a reduced partial pressure of oxygen. A face mask that covers the mouth and nose has an adjustable opening that allows atmospheric air in. Expired air is recycled through two hoses leading to canisters of limestone that remove CO2. The canisters must be replaced after every few hours of use. This air is then returned to the face mask where, the manufacturers say, it is combined with the proper amount of atmospheric air to simulate the partial pressure of oxygen at altitudes ranging from 3,500 to 7,500 ft. Critics say the device is unproved and potentially dangerous. John Kendall, at Burlington, Ontario, internist and runner, told members of the American Medical Joggers Association recently that the device may be safe to use while running on a track under the supervision of a coach, but that using it during unsupervised training "is inexcusable". Individual physiological reactions to hypoxia vary, he said. Some people become disoriented while others may faint. Verf.-Referat