Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Live High Train Low and High ; Research done on Hypoxic Training by Sports Scientists

The data and research done by Sports Scientists, Professors G. Millet, B.Roels,L.Schmitt,X.Woorens et al from multiple universities such as Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland etc. is quite comprehensive.

There are typically 4 different types of key studies :

a) Live High Train High

b) Live High Train Low

c) Live High Train Low and High

d) Live Low and Train High

All these studies are as a result of the near miraculous performances of many athletes who participated in the 1960 Mexico City Olympics which was held at an elevation of 2250 m above sea level, with it, the air pressure was lower and the O2 level was also lower. Many sports scientists began to investigate the effects such as the increase in haematological capacity, or the blood bearing capacity of the human body, as well as the erythropoeitic effects - the production of more red blood cells when the body is subject to lower levels of O2. 

The elite athletes all performed and gave fantastic results (Bob Beamon's long jump record was unbeaten for nearly 25 years after the feat he recorded in Mexico City's rarefied air).




 The findings of Millet et al, are shown above, that various combinations of the 4 training strategies DO have a positive effect on the athletes performance when they resumed competition at sea levels. See above graph.

The findings suggest an increase in the level of aerobic capacity optimally 2 - 4 days (green highlights) after return to sea levels, but this is not 100% for all athletes.

From 14th to 28th day after the LHTH trainings, the effects are still apparent as seen from the graph (Orange highlights in graph).

Hence, it justifies the benefits of this type of training strategy. 

QRA's Athletic Environmental Chamber can simulate altitudes with Oxygen levels up to 5000 m (O2 level of 13.5% or lower). Additinally, QRA can provide Sleep Rooms with altitude levels of up to 3500 m and corresponding O2 levels to match.

Hence, the LHTH, LHTL and the other configurations can easily be accomplished at sea levels without the need to move the entire set of athletes, nutritionists, physiotherapists, doctors and scientists to migrate for weeks to higher altitudes in the name of better performances.

We can provide the full suite of environments, in the Environmental Chamber in your building, anywhere in the world. 

Temperature : - 20 C to 50 C

RH                : 20 to 95%

Hypoxic        : Sea Level to 5000 m

CO2             : maintain at 400 ppm 

Solar            : Entire Solar Spectrum.

QRA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD

(Singapore Designed Athletic Chambers, World Class Quality Approved)

48 Toh Guan Road East

#03 - 144 Enterprise Hub

Singapore 608586

Tel : (65) 6795 1486

Website :www.qra.com.sg

Email : qrasales@qra.com.sg

            mark@qra.com.sg

Our friendly professionals will be most happy to be of service to you. 





Sunday, April 4, 2021

A decent paced run around Pandan Reservoir 3rd April 2021 ; 4.24 pm - 5.03 pm ; Cool weather after rain

 






Here is the results of my Saturday afternoon run around Pandan Reservoir. My average pace is 6.36 min /km pretty decent for a 58 year old man.  My worry at this age, is that I am accumulating a number of sports related injuries. My heart rate had hit 171 beats per minute which is more than 100% of the maximum heart rate, something which I should take serious note of. 


Just after this run, I noticed that my Illio Tibial Band (ITB) around my left knee started to hurt again. I hurt this in January and now, this is the second time it is hurting - albeit not so painful where I need to resort to painkillers.

This is an old injury which will need time to heal and recover, just like my body.





Slightly bemused but extremely satisfied with my run





Anyway, I will take a break of about 4 days after which I will return to this life long hobby 

CARPE DIEM


Saturday, April 3, 2021

World's Most Complete Athletic Chamber - provided by QRA International Pte Ltd (Singapore Design)

        View Inside Chamber ;

Rowing Machines x 2, Wind Simulators x 2,Cycle Machine x 1

Presenting the world's dedicated Athletic Environmental Chamber - QRA ; The 20 year old company has been amongst the first in the world to offer this to clients. The specifications of this chamber are generally in the range below :


Temp : 0 to 50 C

rH      : 20 - 95% rH

Wind :  0 - 15 m /s

Hypoxic : sea level to 8000 m  (20.95% to 11.90% O2)

CO2  control : Using Scrubber Technology to reduce CO2 buildup 

Solar spectrum : Yes - for Heatstroke Studies

This chamber is versatile in the sense that it can condition practically any environment available on this earth ; of course there are harsher climates (say -40 C) but human beings or elite athletes in particular are never out in the harsh Artic or Antarctic temperatures doing 10000 m or marathons so there is not a need to simulate the extreme in temperatures.

There have been several customers who are first movers of this unique product worldwide, they are from the Sports, Medical and Defence Industry WORLDWIDE.  




Prices start from as low  as US$ 98 ,000 



Test Conditions vary from place to place ; from the tropics which are hot and humid, to the temperate which is cold and dry, possibly hot and dry, to the desert which is extremely hot and dry the Athletic Chamber can simulate it all. 

If any of you out there has such a requirement, write in or call in to :

QRA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD.

48 Toh Guan Road East
#03 - 144
Enterprise Hub
Singapore 608586

Tel :(65) 6795 1486

Website : www.qra.com.sg

Or Email :qrasales@qra.com.sg

                mark@qra.com.sg


and our friendly experts will accede to all your enquiries, promptly and with full professional suite of solutions to meet your budget.

Call In or Write In Now ! We are awaiting your interest Sports Professionals and Scientists ! 



There has never been a time to Up your Game ! 


Friday, April 2, 2021

Athletic Chamber in Australia Canberra - July 2018

 


This is the latest overseas Athletic Chamber in Canberra Australia 2018, the video shows the room (with polyurethane insulated panels) and while the installation had its issues and setbacks, the system ran perfectly.

Temperature and Humidity Controlled Room with Hypoxic O2 control.

Do enjoy the video and send over your comments 

"Exceeding the Limits of our Imagination"  


QRA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD

(Singapore Design Athletic Chamber for Elite and Rehabilitating Athletes)

Write in to : qrasales@qra.com.sg

                     mark@qra.com.sg

and our engaging sales professionals will be able to craft innovative and top quality solutions for your athletes.



  

Athletic Chamber for Rehabilitation of Athletes Doha, Qatar 2017 - 2021 The Solution

 In my previous post, I had stated that there were problems at the start of the project in Doha, Qatar. I decided to take these problems and change them into challenges. Discussing with the factory engineers, I decided to give a simple layout plan for the chamber and the factory engineers had to innovate and work out a solution. Immediately after I landed from Doha in Singapore, I took a day to rest, and arranged for a followup meeting in Shenzhen the following day with the factory people arranging to meet me - taking the Expressway (some 3 hours drive) near the land crossing between China and Hong Kong. 

1. Height Limitation 

The total usable height of  3.8 m while it was a tough challenge, it was not impossible. We decided that since the total usable area was barely sufficient, we decided to place the cooling evaporators,fan units,blowers, expansion valves and grills above the ceiling of the chamber with drill throughs into the work space.

2. Structural Column just outside the chamber  

We worked with the factory from Dongguan to provide a sliding door which was automated and activated by a push button. This would alleviate the area where a swing out door would not be practical since there was a large structural column just outside the main room of the chamber proper.


3. Chiller to be located in the Plant Room on the Roof, some 2 floors above the chamber room

With the expertise of IB Trading and Contracting, providing manpower for transporting the chiller from the cargo loading bay at the back of the hospital to the top floor of the building. I must commend IB Trading and Contracting to be the best in the business in Qatar. Mr. Sreenath Parambath (M.D. of company) is to be commended for carrying out a sterling job in this project marshalling his many workers,technicians and engineers to ensure whatever needed to be done (creating lead in holes between floors, piping, noise suppression materials, manual labor and support staff etc.) was done.  


The finished product, proudly standing tall.
Large viewing window, personnel door, non slip floor. 
View from outside of chamber from controller room 

No Cargo Lift

When the equipment arrived in pallets.IB Trading uncrated and man packed the panels of the chamber, the evaporator, compressor, condenser and all the piping up 3 floors to the Chamber room. No excuses, just got things done so smoothly like a well oiled machine.

10 upon 10 for work ethics, safety and efficiency !

Multiple Points of Supply and Installation 

QRA shows the world that we are truly a global company, Equipment and materials from Asia and Europe, Installers from South East Asia and Complete project in the Pearl of the Middle East, Doha Qatar.

We completed everything early May 2017 onsite and on time.



The biggest takeaway ?

QRA is ready to serve all Sports Associations, Clubs, and Institutes for the purposes of Hypoxic, Environmental and Stress Training of Elite and Rehabilitating Athletes.

We are just an email away :

QRA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD. 
(From Singapore to the World) 

Only the best for your athletes.

Website : www.qra.com.sg 

Contact : qrasales@qra.com.sg
     
                 mark@qra.com.sg

and our friendly sales professionals are ready to serve you anytime, anywhere in the world. 



Athletic Environmental Chamber Doha Qatar  2018

Chamber, Scrubbers (for CO2 Control), Compressor System and Control Panel

Athletic Chamber for Rehabilitation of Athletes - Doha Qatar (2017 - 2021)




     Components of Chamber located in Aspire Doha 2021  

This is the standout work done by QRA International in 2017. The client is a hospital located in Doha,Qatar. The environmental test chamber was built in 2017 to provide temperature and humidity control of recovering athletes at various climates.  QRA offered a warranty for parts and labour (4 years) and to date, it is functioning exceptionally well. 

Problem Scope and Timeline

End November 2016

I went to discuss the requirements and the lead time for the project with the local partner and client. There were numerous challenges. < volume, area, and footprint>

Problems = Challenges. 

a) Height limitation of the room where the chamber and control room was to be built. It was 3.8 meters high all in, 

b) Structural column just outside the proposed chamber impeding the access of equipment into the chamber.

c) 2 floors (50 m) above was the only area available to house the cooling condenser and piping work had to be laid out from 2 floors above, taking into account the loss of pressure head in the chilled water to the compressor 2 floors below.

d) No cargo lift. The equipment basically needed to be built in strip down panels and man packed 3 stories 

e) Lead Time and Components, System Integrators in 4  different locations worldwide.  

1. Environmental Chamber : from our factory in DongGuan China

2. CO2 amine scrubbers : from our supplier in Finland, Europe.

3. System Integrator : QRA Int'l based out of Singapore

4. Installation : In Doha Qatar, Middle East 


3 D Symmetrical View of Chamber and Control Room


I took up the challenge when the other Chinese competitor pulled out of the project. The clock was ticking and the local contractor had to pay LD charges if the project dragged on beyond middle of 2017. 

Were we successful ?

Stay Tuned to the next posts. 

Our company :

QRA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD (SINGAPORE)

48 Toh Guan Road East

#03 - 144 Enterprise Hub

Singapore 608586

Tel : (65) 67951486

Website : www.qra.com.sg

Emails : qrasales@qra.com.sg 

              mark@qra.com.sg

                                      "Challenge the Limits of our Thinking". 



My Last Visit to Beijing Sept 2010