Associationbetween AMS Score, leg Muscle Strength And Spo2On One-day Rapid Ascent Of Mount Fuji

Abstract

Previous studies reported that mountain sickness in climbers is associated with heart rate, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), and acute mountain sickness (AMS) score. These results supported the hypothesis that monitoring the SpO2 can help prevent mountain sickness. In addition, because the muscle groups in the lower limbs are involved, it was hypothesized that the degree of fatigue during climbing, SpO2, and leg muscle strength are related to blood circulation. PURPOSE: To examined the association between the AMS score, leg extension strength, and SpO2 on a 1-day rapid ascent of Mount Fuji. METHODS: Sixteen subjects (10 male and 6 female, height; 168±8.1 cm, weight; 66.5±10.5 kg, age; 21±2.3 years) participated in the present study. Before and after climbing, the subjects underwent a leg extension strength analysis, and their heart rate and SpO2 were measured using a pulse oximeter while climbing. To determine their AMS scores, we also conducted a questionnaire survey on the climbers’ headaches, loss of appetite/nausea, fatigue/weakness, dizziness/lightheadedness, and sleep disorders. RESULTS:The average climbing time was 6 hours and 12 minutes to ascend and 2 hours and 57 minutes to descend Mount Fuji. All subjects with high AMS scores tended to have low SpO2 at the mountaintop. There was a positive correlation between leg muscle strength and SpO2 at Mount Fuji’s summit in male subjects, but not in females. In addition, there was no correlation between the AMS score and leg strength in both male and female subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that subjects with high AMS scores had low SpO2 at the mountaintop. In addition, there is a positive correlation between leg muscle strength and SpO2 at the mountain’s summit in male subjects, but not in females.