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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(08): 708-715
DOI: 10.1055/a-1236-3953
Training & Testing

Effects of Normobaric Hypoxia on Matched-severe Exercise and Power-duration Relationship

Ana Catarina Sousa
1   Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
2   University Institute of Maia, ISMAI, Maia, Portugal
,
Gregoire P. Millet 
3   ISSUL, University of Lausanne, Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education (ISSEP), Lausanne, Switzerland
,
João Viana
4   Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, University Institute of Maia, ISMAI, Maia, Portugal
,
Jaime Milheiro
5   Portuguese Olympic Committee, COP, Portugal
,
Vítor Reis
6   CMEP – Exercise Medical Center, Porto, Portugal
› Author Affiliations Funding: This work received funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (SFRH/BPD/114670/2) and under the project UID04045/2020.
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Abstract

We investigated the effects of hypoxia on matched-severe intensity exercise and on the parameters of the power-duration relationship. Fifteen trained subjects performed in both normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (FiO2=0.13, ~3000 m) a maximal incremental test, a 3 min all-out test (3AOT) and a transition from rest to an exercise performed to exhaustion (Tlim) at the same relative intensity (80%∆). Respiratory and pulmonary gas-exchange variables were continuously measured (K5, Cosmed, Italy). Tlim test’s V̇O2 kinetics was calculated using a two-component exponential model. V̇O2max (44.1±5.1 vs. 58.7±6.4 ml.kg-1.min-1, p<0.001) was decreased in hypoxia. In Tlim, time-to-exhaustion sustained was similar (454±130 vs. 484±169 s) despite that V̇O2 kinetics was slower (τ1: 31.1±5.8 vs. 21.6±4.7 s, p<0.001) and the amplitude of the V̇O2 slow component lower (12.4±5.4 vs. 20.2±5.7 ml.kg-1.min-1, p<0.05) in hypoxia. CP was reduced (225±35 vs. 270±49 W, p<0.001) but W’ was unchanged (11.3±2.9 vs. 11.4±2.7 kJ) in hypoxia. The changes in CP/V̇O2max were positively correlated with changes in W’ (r = 0.58, p<0.05). The lower oxygen availability had an impact on aerobic related physiological parameters, but exercise tolerance is similar between hypoxia and normoxia when the relative intensity is matched despite a slower V̇O2 kinetics in hypoxia.

Key words

exercise-to-exhaustion - critical power - hypoxia - W'


Publication History

Received: 16 May 2020

Accepted: 23 July 2020

Article published online:
18 January 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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