On the Use of the Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia in Tennis.

Sarah J. Willis,Cyril Brechbuhl,Gregoire P. Millet,Thomas Blokker,Laurent Schmitt,Franck Brocherie,Olivier Girard,Bernard Montalvan

doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.588821

Abstract

PurposeTo examine physiological and technical responses to repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia at ∼3,000 m (RSH, n = 11) or in normoxia (RSN, n = 11) compared to a control group (CON, n = 8) in well-trained tennis players. Participants were 28.8 ± 5.9 years old without any previous experience of training in hypoxia.MethodsIn addition to maintaining their usual training (CON), both RSH and RSN groups completed five tennis specific repeated-shuttle sprint sessions (4 × 5 × ∼8 s maximal sprints with ∼22 s passive recovery and ∼5 min rest between sets) over 12 days. Before (Pre), the week after (Post-1) and 3 weeks after Post-1 (Post-2), physical/technical performance during Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST), repeated-sprint ability (RSA) (8 × ∼20 m shuttle runs—departing every 20 s) and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed.ResultsFrom Pre to Post-1 and Post-2, RSH improved TEST time to exhaustion (+18.2 and +17.3%; both P < 0.001), while the “onset of blood lactate accumulation” at 4 mmol L–1 occurred at later stages (+24.4 and +19.8%, both P < 0.01). At the same time points, ball accuracy at 100% V̇O2max increased in RSH only (+38.2%, P = 0.003 and +40.9%, P = 0.007). Markers of TEST performance did not change for both RSN and CON. Compared to Pre, RSA total time increased significantly at Post-1 and Post-2 (−1.9 and −2.5%, P < 0.05) in RSH only and this was accompanied by larger absolute Δ total hemoglobin (+82.5 and +137%, both P < 0.001). HRV did not change either supine or standing positions.ConclusionFive repeated sprint training sessions in hypoxia using tennis specific shuttle runs improve physiological and technical responses to TEST, RSA, and accompanying muscle perfusion responses in well-trained tennis players.

Highlights

Elite tennis players possess well-developed technical and tactical skills and high fitness level in order to cope with the physical demands of the game
Repeated-sprint exercise sessions are most frequently performed in normoxia (RSN), their completion in systemic hypoxia (RSH) is increasingly popular in many sports since it can provide additional performance benefits
During the repeated sprint ability (RSA) test, we report that RSH had beneficial adaptations concomitant with the improved blood perfusion level in their legs [absolute +82.6% at Post-1, +137% at Post-2, Figure 3] inducing an enhanced oxygen utilization

Summary

Introduction

Elite tennis players possess well-developed technical and tactical skills and high fitness level in order to cope with the physical demands of the game. They need to develop a combination of fitness qualities such as speed, agility, repeated sprint ability (RSA), power as well as high aerobic fitness (Reid and Schneiker, 2008). Repeated-sprint exercise sessions, with the potential of concomitantly increasing maximal oxygen uptake (V O2max) and speed/power during tests of RSA, represent effective means for physical performance enhancement in tennis (Bishop et al, 2011). Well-trained tennis players increased time to exhaustion and onset of blood lactate accumulation at 4 mMol L−1 as well as the ball accuracy (+13.8%) immediately after five RSH sessions (Brechbuhl et al, 2018a)

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