Effect of training in hypoxia on repeated sprint performance in female athletes

Abstract

BackgroundThis study determined the effect of repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) in female athletes.MethodsThirty-two college female athletes performed repeated cycling sprints of two sets of 10 × 7-s sprints with a 30-s rest between sprints twice per week for 4 weeks under either normoxic conditions (RSN group; FiO2, 20.9%; n = 16) or hypoxic conditions (RSH group; FiO2, 14.5%; n = 16). The repeated sprint ability (10 × 7-s sprints) and maximal oxygen uptake () were determined before and after the training period.ResultsAfter training, when compared to pre-values, the mean power output was higher in all sprints during the repeated sprint test in the RSH group but only for the second half of the sprints in the RSN group (P ≤ 0.05). The percentage increases in peak and mean power output between before and after the training period were significantly greater in the RSH group than in the RSN group (peak power output, 5.0 ± 0.7% vs. 1.5 ± 0.9%, respectively; mean power output, 9.7 ± 0.9% vs. 6.0 ± 0.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). did not change significantly after the training period in either group.ConclusionFour weeks of RSH further enhanced the peak and mean power output during repeated sprint test compared with RSN.

Impact of 5 Days of Sprint Training in Hypoxia on Performance and Muscle Energy Substances

“…In addition, a significant increase in peak power output during the RSA test (5 × 6-s maximal sprint) was observed only in the HYPO group. These findings are consistent with a recent publication that reported a significant improvement in 7-s maximal sprint performance after four weeks of RSH in female team-sport athletes [25]. Moreover, we recently demonstrated that 6 successive days of RSH significantly improved the running time of the initial phase of 60-m sprint, with a concomitant increase in muscle PCr content, although the sample size was relatively small [26].…”

“…Moreover, Hamlin et al [21] found that RSA (8 × 20-m sprint with 20-s rest between sprints) was significantly improved following 3 weeks of RSH among rugby players. We also reported previously that 4 weeks of RSH (two successive sets of 10 × 7-s sprints with 30-s rest periods between sprints, F i O 2 , 14.5 %) led to a 3-fold increase in initial sprint power output during a repeated sprint test (10 × 7-s sprints) compared with the same training in normoxia [25]. The enhanced RSA may be explained by augmented adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production via ATP-phosphocreatine (ATP-PCr) and glycolytic systems, as well as the aerobic energy system.…”

“…This physical component is known as "repeated sprint ability (RSA)" [10]. Increased attention has recently been paid to repeated sprint training under hypoxic conditions (RSH) as a novel training option among cyclists and team spor t athletes [3,11,12,16,21,25,33]. Faiss et al [12] showed that RSH for 4 weeks among cyclists significantly increased the number of sets until fatigue during a repeated sprint test (repeated 10-s maximal sprint with 20-s active recovery until exhaustion).…”

Effects of all‐out sprint interval training under hyperoxia on exercise performance

“…In recent years, all‐out SIT under hypoxic condition has been reported to induce greater improvements in exercise performance compared with that under normoxic condition. Recent studies have shown greater improvement in power output during repeated sprint test following SIT under hypoxia compared with that under normoxia in male sprinters (Kasai et al ) and female lacrosse athletes (Kasai et al ). In addition, SIT under hypoxia leads to greater increases in power output and number of sprint sets until exhaustion during repeated sprint tests in male cyclists (Faiss et al ) and male and female cross‐country skiers (Faiss et al ).…”

“…Hypoxic exposure increases the contribution of the anaerobic energy system during all‐out sprint exercise (Ogura et al ). Therefore, researchers speculate that the increased stimulus to the anaerobic energy system may contribute to greater improvements in anaerobic exercise performance (Kasai et al ). If the alteration in the energy system contributions during SIT due to the change in oxygen concentration affects the SIT‐induced performance adaptations, all‐out SIT under hyperoxia may cause greater SIT‐induced improvement in aerobic exercise performance because hyperoxia exposure increases the percentage of energy supplied from the aerobic system during maximal exercise (Linossier et al ).…”