Abstract
BackgroundResistance training (RT) under hypoxic conditions has been used to increase muscular performance under normoxic conditions in young people. However, the effects of RT and thus of RT under hypoxia (RTH) could also be valuable for parameters of physical capacity and body composition across the lifespan. Therefore, we compared the effects of low- to moderate-load RTH with matched designed RT on muscular strength capacity, cardiopulmonary capacity, hematological adaptation, and body composition in young and older people.MethodsIn a pre–post randomized, blinded, and controlled experiment, 42 young (18 to 30 year) and 42 older (60 to 75 year) participants were randomly assigned to RTH or RT (RTH young, RT young, RTH old, RT old). Both groups performed eight resistance exercises (25–40% of 1RM, 3 × 15 repetitions) four times a week over 5 weeks. The intensity of hypoxic air for the RTH was administered individually in regards to the oxygen saturation of the blood (SpO2): ∼80–85%. Changes and differences in maximal isokinetic strength, cardiopulmonary capacity, total hemoglobin mass (tHb), blood volume (BV), fat free mass (FFM), and fat mass (FM) were determined pre–post, and the acute reaction of erythropoietin (EPO) was tested during the intervention.ResultsIn all parameters, no significant pre–post differences in mean changes (time × group effects p = 0.120 to 1.000) were found between RTH and RT within the age groups. However, within the four groups, isolated significant improvements (p < 0.050) of the single groups were observed regarding the muscular strength of the legs and the cardiopulmonary capacity.DiscussionAlthough the hypoxic dose and the exercise variables of the resistance training in this study were based on the current recommendations of RTH, the RTH design used had no superior effect on the tested parameters in young and older people in comparison to the matched designed RT under normoxia after a 5-week intervention period. Based on previous RTH-studies as well as the knowledge about RT in general, it can be assumed that the expected higher effects of RTH can may be achieved by changing exercise variables (e.g., longer intervention period, higher loads).
Highlights
Resistance training is usually used to increase or maintain muscular strength and muscle mass among all age groups
Since age-related loss of muscular strength and muscle mass are associated with an increased manifestation of a lower functional capability, incidence of non-communicable disease, and/or mortality (Landi et al, 2013; Volaklis et al, 2015), resistance training is a valuable exercise intervention strategy to conserve or enhance physical performance and health due to the anabolic effects on muscular strength and muscle mass (Kraschnewski et al, 2016; Mcleod et al, 2019)
We found no superior effects of resistance training under hypoxic conditions (RTH) in comparison to matched designed Resistance training (RT) on physical performance, total hemoglobin mass (tHb), blood volume (BV), and body composition (FFM, FM)
Summary
Resistance training is usually used to increase or maintain muscular strength and muscle mass among all age groups. It is assumed that muscular hypertrophy and muscle strength can be increased to a higher extent with RTH than with traditional resistance training (Feriche et al, 2017). This assumption is reasoned by higher metabolic stress (Scott et al, 2014, 2015a, 2017) triggering functional and structural muscular adaptations (Schoenfeld, 2010, 2013). We compared the effects of low- to moderate-load RTH with matched designed RT on muscular strength capacity, cardiopulmonary capacity, hematological adaptation, and body composition in young and older people
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