Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
ISSN: 1303 - 2968   
Ios-APP Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
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©Journal of Sports Science and Medicine ( 2025 )  24 ,  613  -  625   DOI: https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.613

Research article
Effects of High Intensity Interval Training in Normobaric Hypoxia on Aerobic Performance and Exercise-Induced Motor Performance Fatigue in Young Biathletes
Aleksandra Żebrowska1, , Marcin Sikora1, Rafał Mikołajczyk2, Dagmara Gerasimuk1, Mabliny Thuany3, Katja Weiss4, Beat Knechtle4,5, Barbara Hall1
Author Information
1 Institute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland
2 Department of Physiology, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland
3 Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
4 Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
5 Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland

Aleksandra Żebrowska
✉ Institute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland
Email: a.zebrowska@awf.katowice.pl
Publish Date
Received: 06-08-2023
Accepted: 09-07-2025
Published (online): 01-09-2025
Narrated in English
 
 
ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in normobaric hypoxia on aerobic performance in young biathlon athletes. In addition, the study aimed to assess the impact of training in hypoxia on the mechanisms of exercise-induced motor performance fatigue. In a randomized, controlled crossover study twelve athletes (age 15.7 ± 1.0 years) completed a HIIT in normobaric hypoxia (hypoxia training) (fraction of inspired oxygen, FiO2 = 15.2%) and normoxia (normoxia training) in a randomized order. The HIIT was performed 3 days/week for 6 weeks (3 weeks in hypoxia and 3 weeks in normoxia, with a 3 week wash-out period in between) and consisted of 5 x 4 minutes running (80% of peak oxygen uptake), separated by 3 minutes of active recovery and 4 x 1minute arm cranking (60% peak power), interspersed with a 2 minute rest. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pro-inflammatory cytokines, muscle damage biomarkers and total antioxidant status were analyzed before and after both training protocols (HT and NT). A significant effect of hypoxia on V̇O2peak (ηp2 = 0.321, p = 0.044) and hypoxia and training on V̇O2LT and haemoglobin concentrations (ηp2 = 0.689 p = 0.001) were observed. The V̇O2peak was significantly higher post-HT compared to pre-HT (p < 0.01). A significant effect of oxygen conditions and training on the serum post-exercise VEGF (ηp2 = 0.352, p = 0.033) and myoglobin concentrations (ηp2 = 0.647 p = 0.001) was found. A significant effect of hypoxia was also observed for cytokines levels: interleukin-6 (ηp2 = 0.324 p = 0.042), tumour necrosis factor alpha (ηp2 = 0.474 p = 0.009) and transforming growth factor beta (ηp2= 0.410, p = 0.018) with a non-significant effect on antioxidant status. This study shows significant differences in the aerobic performance and biomarkers of muscle damage after exposure to hypoxia training. These findings highlight that HIIT in hypoxia is sufficient to enhance aerobic performance and may also reduce skeletal muscle susceptibility to fatigue in young biathletes.

Key words: Hypoxia, biomarkers of skeletal muscle damage, training, biathlon, oxygen uptake, lactate threshold


           Key Points
  • High intensive interval training in hypoxia significantly enhances aerobic performance in young athletes, providing valuable evidence for optimizing training regiments.
  • Training in hypoxia has the potential to increase protective mechanisms against exercise-induced motor performance fatigue compared to the normoxia training.
  • Exposure to hypoxia modulates the cytokine and inflammatory processes with a non-significant effect on antioxidant status.
 
 
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