The Effects of Intermittent Hypoxic Training on Anaerobic and Aerobic Power in Boxers.

Tadeusz Ambroży,Dorota Ambroży,Piotr Snopkowski,Wojciech Cynarski,Łukasz Rydzik,Arkadiusz Stanula,Janusz Jaworski,Tomasz Pałka,Szczepan Wiecha,Andrzej T Klimek,Marcin Maciejczyk

doi:10.3390/ijerph17249361

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) on anaerobic and aerobic fitness in elite, national boxers. Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 6 weeks. It comprised 30 national championship boxers, divided into 2 groups: the experimental and control. Both groups performed the same boxing training twice a day (morning and afternoon training). In the afternoon, the experimental group performed training under normobaric conditions in a hypoxic chamber (IHT), while the control group undertook exercise in standard normoxic conditions. In both groups, before and after the 6-week programme, basic anthropometric indices as well as anaerobic (Wingate Test) and aerobic (graded test) fitness were assessed. Results: There was a significant increase in anaerobic peak power (988.2 vs. 1011.8 W), mean anaerobic power (741.1 vs. 764.8 W), total work (22.84 vs. 22.39 kJ), and a decrease in fatigue index (20.33 vs. 18.6 W·s−1) as well as time to peak power (5.01 vs. 4.72 s). Such changes were not observed in the control group. In both groups, no significant changes in endurance performance were noted after the training session – peak oxygen uptake did not significantly vary after IHT. Conclusions: Our results have practical application for coaches, as the IHT seems to be effective in improving anaerobic performance among boxers.

Highlights

In recent years, scientific interest in boxing has increased significantly
The only difference in training was that boxers in the experimental group performed the afternoon training in normobaric hypoxic conditions in a hypoxic chamber, while competitors from the control group remained in standard normoxic conditions
The intermittent hypoxic training seems to be effective in improving anaerobic performance

Summary

Introduction

Scientific interest in boxing has increased significantly. The data published are related to the structure of training in individual mesocycles, predicting sport results as well as physiological profile of competitors [1,2,3]. The experimental group performed training under normobaric conditions in a hypoxic chamber (IHT), while the control group undertook exercise in standard normoxic conditions. In both groups, before and after the 6-week programme, basic anthropometric indices as well as anaerobic (Wingate Test) and aerobic (graded test) fitness were assessed. Results: There was a significant increase in anaerobic peak power (988.2 vs 1011.8 W), mean anaerobic power (741.1 vs 764.8 W), total work (22.84 vs 22.39 kJ), and a decrease in fatigue index (20.33 vs 18.6 W·s−1 ) as well as time to peak power (5.01 vs 4.72 s) Such changes were not observed in the control group.

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