Environmental Chamber

Our environmental chamber enables precise simulation of altitudes from 0 to 5300 meters and temperatures from -18°C to +30°C, supporting both scientific research and applied athlete testing.

Powered by a Hypoxico system, it allows controlled exposure to hypoxia, heat, and cold, helping us explore physiological responses, optimise performance, and develop strategies to support athletes to adapt to extreme environments.

Capabilities and Modalities

The chamber supports a range of exercise modalities, including:

Cycling (stationary bike)
Walking/running (treadmill)
Ski ergometer
Rollerskiing (small treadmill for double poling)

Environmental conditions can be precisely controlled and monitored, enabling:

Acute and chronic exposure protocols
Profiling of physiological responses to altitude
Temperature stress testing
Heat acclimation
Exercise challenge testing for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, in cold and/or dry air.

Previous and ongoing projects

Projects:

Aegis 4: screening study

Aegis: use of heat exchangers in training in cold environments

Hyperborean

Publications:

McGawley, K., Spencer, M., Olofsson, A. & Andersson, E. (2021). Comparing active, passive and combined warm-ups among junior alpine skiers in -7°C. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(8), 1140–1147.

Pettersson, S., Edin, F., Bakkman, L. & McGawley, K. (2019). Effects of supplementing with an 18% carbohydrate-hydrogel drink versus a placebo during whole-body exercise in -5 °C with elite cross-country ski athletes: a crossover study.

Nybäck, L., Glännerud, C., Larsson, G., Weitzberg, E., Shannon, O. & McGawley, K. (2017). Physiological and performance effects of nitrate supplementation during roller-skiing in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia.