Faculty & Research

Education:

• Ph.D. at Indiana University, 1996
• M.S. at Indiana University, 1992
• B.S. at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1991

Contact Information:

(812) 855-5523

[send e-mail]

HPER 048

Background:

• Co-investigator, US Olympic Committee and USA Track & Field research on the "Live High - Train Low" altitude training model
• Post-doctoral fellowship, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and the UT-Southwestern Medical Center
• USA Track and Field, Men's Development Committee, 5000m event chair
• Former men's cross country / track coach, Indiana University

Research:

My main research interests have focused on the limitations to performance in elite endurance athletes. In particular, my research has focused on pulmonary gas exchange limitations in elite distance runners and the effective use of altitude training to augment endurance performance. For example, approximately 50% of the elite endurance athlete population exhibits a phenomenon called exercise induced hypoxemia, when inadequate pulmonary gas exchange limits arterial oxygen content even at sea level. Our research has indicated that these athletes experience significant declines in performance at mild altitudes (< 3000ft) - an altitude not generally thought to be high enough to limit performance. With altitude training, athletes who experience the most performance improvement upon return to sea level are generally the ones who individually "respond" the best. Our data indicates that Responders a) produce more EPO, which leads to greater red blood cell production and VO2max improvement, and b) are able to train at the fastest speeds and oxygen uptakes while at altitude. This knowledge may allow scientists and coaches to pre-screen athletes to determine who would benefit the most from altitude and form whom the cost of relocating to an altitude camp exceeds a reduced benefit.

Publications:

Chapman, R.F. and Levine, B.D. (2007). Altitude training for the marathon. Sports Med. 37: 392-395.

Lundby, C., Calbet, J.A.L., Sander, M., van Hall, G., Mazzeo, R.S., Stray-Gundersen, J., Stager, J.M., Chapman, R.F., Saltin, B., and Levine, B.D. (2007). Exercise economy does not change after acclimatization to moderate to very high altitude. Scan J Med Sci Sports. 17: 281-291.

Stray-Gunderson, J., Chapman, R.F., and Levine, B.D. (2001). "Living high-training low" altitude training improves sea level performance in male and female elite runners. J. Appl. Physiol. 91: 1113-1120.

Chapman, R.F. and Levine, B.D. (2000). The effects of hypo- and hyperbaria on performance. Exercise and Sports Science. Garrett and Kirkendall, eds. 447-458.

Chapman, R.F., Emery, M., and Stager, J.M. (1999). Degree of arterial desaturation in normoxia influences VO2max decline in mild hypoxia. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 31: 658-663.

Chapman, R.F., Stray-Gundersen, J., and Levine, B.D. (1998). Individual variation in response to altitude training. J. Appl. Physiol. 85: 1448-1456.

Chapman, R.F., Emery, M., and Stager, J.M. (1998). Extent of expiratory flow limitation influences the increase in maximal exercise ventilation in hypoxia. Respir. Physiol. 113: 65-74.

Courses Recently Taught:

• P409 - Basic Physiology of Exercise

• E220 - Theory of Training for Endurance Events

• K535 - Physiological Basis of Human Performance