Abstract
Repeated Wingate efforts (RW) represent an effective training strategy for improving exercise capacity. Living low-training high altitude/hypoxic training methods, that upregulate muscle adaptations, are increasingly popular. However, the benefits of RW training in hypoxia compared to normoxia on performance and accompanying physiological adaptations remain largely undetermined. Our intention was to test the hypothesis that RW training in hypoxia provides additional performance benefits and more favorable physiological responses than equivalent training in normoxia. Twelve male runners (university sprinters) completed six RW training sessions (3 × 30-s Wingate “all-out” efforts with 4.5-min recovery) in either hypoxia (FiO2: 0.145, n = 6) or normoxia (FiO2: 0.209, n = 6) over 2 weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants underwent a RW performance test (3 × 30-s Wingate “all-out” efforts with 4.5-min recovery). Peak power output, mean power output, and total work for the three exercise bouts were determined. A capillary blood sample was taken for analyzing blood lactate concentration (BLa) 3 min after each of the three efforts. Peak power output (+ 11.3 ± 23.0%, p = 0.001), mean power output (+ 6.6 ± 6.8%, p = 0.001), and total work (+ 6.3 ± 5.4% p = 0.016) significantly increased from pre- to post-training, independently of condition. The time × group × interval interaction was significant (p = 0.05) for BLa. Compared to Pre-tests, BLa values during post-test were higher (+ 8.7 ± 10.3%) after about 2 in the normoxic group, although statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.08). Contrastingly, BLa values were lower (albeit not significantly) during post- compared to pre-tests after bout 2 (−9.3 ± 8.6%; p = 0.08) and bout 3 (−9.1 ± 10.7%; p = 0.09) in the hypoxic group. In conclusion, six RW training sessions over 2 weeks significantly improved RW performance, while training in hypoxia had no additional benefit over normoxia. However, accompanying BLa responses tended to be lower in the hypoxic group, while an opposite pattern was observed in the normoxic group. This indicates that different glycolytic and/or oxidative pathway adaptations were probably at play.
Highlights
Live low-train high altitude/hypoxic training methods are increasingly popular (Wilber, 2007a; Faiss et al, 2013b; Brocherie et al, 2017)
Training in hypoxia compared to normoxia could augment the exercise stimulus to boost physiological adaptations, yet it does not always provide additional performance benefits (Vogt and Hoppeler, 2010)
The sample size was estimated using a power analysis software (G∗power Version 3.1.9.6, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany) based on the mean effect (d = 1.32) of the within group improvement in mean power output for repeated 30-s Wingate efforts, as conducted by Puype et al (2013) The power analysis resulted in a calculated total sample size of seven participants
Summary
Live low-train high altitude/hypoxic training methods are increasingly popular (Wilber, 2007a; Faiss et al, 2013b; Brocherie et al, 2017). Training in hypoxia could induce nonhematological adaptations such as upregulation in mitochondrial biogenesis (Vogt et al, 2001; Schmutz et al, 2010), oxidative and glycolytic enzymes (Vogt et al, 2001; Zoll et al, 2006; Puype et al, 2013), monocarboxylate transporters (Zoll et al, 2006; Faiss et al, 2013a) and/or angiogenesis (Vogt et al, 2001; Wahl et al, 2013) These adaptations develop in skeletal muscle tissues through an oxygen sensing signaling pathway and thereby might be less pronounced in normoxic conditions (Richardson et al, 1995; Hoppeler and Vogt, 2001). Reduced oxygen flux resulting from lower oxygen availability can in turn negatively impact training stimulus by reducing absolute training intensity and/or volume (Vogt and Hoppeler, 2010)
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