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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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THE EFFECTS OF INTERMITTENT HYPOXIC TRAINING ON AEROBIC CAPACITY AND ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE IN CYCLISTS |
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Milosz Czuba1  ,
Zbigniew Waskiewicz2, Adam Zajac1, Stanislaw Poprzecki3,
Jaroslaw Cholewa1 and Robert Roczniok4 |
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1Department of Sports Training, 2Department of Team Sport Games, 3Department of Biochemistry, and 4Department of Statistics and Methodology, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 175 - 183 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent
hypoxic training (IHT) with 95 % of lactate threshold workload (WRLT)
on aerobic capacity and endurance performance in well-trained cyclists.
Twenty male elite cyclists, randomly divided into a hypoxia (H) group (n=10;
age 22 ± 2.7years; VO2max 67.8 ± 2.5 ml·kg-1·min-1;
body height (BH) 1.78 ± 0.05 m; body mass (BM) 66.7 ± 5.4kg; fat free mass
(FFM) 59.3 ± 5.1kg; fat content (FAT%) 11.3 ± 2.1%), and a control (C) group
(n = 10; age 23.5 ± 3. 5years; VO2max 67.7 ± 2.0 ml·kg-1·min-1;
BH 1.79 ± 3.2 m; BM 69.2 ± 5.5 kg; FFM 63.6 ± 4.8 kg; FAT% 7.9 ± 1.94 %)
took part in the research project. The training program used during the
experiment was the same for the both groups. For three weeks, the subjects
in H group performed 3 training sessions per week in normobaric hypoxia
environment (IHT - O2 = 15. 2%). During the elemental core of
the IHT session, the intensity was set at 95% WRLT for 30-min
in 1st microcycle, 35-min in 2nd microcycle and 40-min
in 3rd microcycle. The same training procedure was provided in
C group, yet the intensity of the main sessions were set at 100% WRLT
in the normoxia environment. The results indicate a significant (p <
0.05) increase in VO2max,VO2LT, WRmax, WRLT
and change in lactate concentration (∆LA) during incremental test
in H group. Also a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in time of the time
trial was seen, associated with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in
average generated power (Pavg) and average speed (Vavg) during the time
trial. The intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) applied in this research
did not significantly affect the hematological variables considered: number
of erythrocytes (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HGB) and haematocrit value
(HCT). Significant blood value increases (p < 0.05) were only observed
in MCV in H group. This data suggests that intermittent hypoxic training
at lactate threshold intensity and medium duration (30-40min) is an effective
training means for improving aerobic capacity and endurance performance
at sea level.
Key words: Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT), hypoxia, aerobic capacity, endurance performance, cycling. |
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