To assess the effect of normobaric hypoxia on metabolism, gut hormones, and body composition, 11 normal weight, aerobically trained (O2peak: 60.6 ± 9.5 ml·kg−1·min−1) men (73.0 ± 7.7 kg; 23.7 ± 4.0 years, BMI 22.2 ± 2.4 kg·m−2) were confined to a normobaric (altitude ≃ 940 m) normoxic (NORMOXIA; PIO2 ≃ 133.2 mmHg) or normobaric hypoxic (HYPOXIA; PIO was reduced from 105.6 to 97.7 mmHg over 10 days) environment for 10 days in a randomized cross-over design. The wash-out period between confinements was 3 weeks. During each 10-day period, subjects avoided strenuous physical activity and were under continuous nutritional control. Before, and at the end of each exposure, subjects completed a meal tolerance test (MTT), during which blood glucose, insulin, GLP-1, ghrelin, peptide-YY, adrenaline, noradrenaline, leptin, and gastro-intestinal blood flow and appetite sensations were measured. There was no significant change in body weight in either of the confinements (NORMOXIA: −0.7 ± 0.2 kg; HYPOXIA: −0.9 ± 0.2 kg), but a significant increase in fat mass in NORMOXIA (0.23 ± 0.45 kg), but not in HYPOXIA (0.08 ± 0.08 kg). HYPOXIA confinement increased fasting noradrenaline and decreased energy intake, the latter most likely associated with increased fasting leptin. The majority of all other measured variables/responses were similar in NORMOXIA and HYPOXIA. To conclude, normobaric hypoxic confinement without exercise training results in negative energy balance due to primarily reduced energy intake.

The present study evaluated the effect of a sleep high-train low regimen on the finger cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) response. Seventeen healthy males were assigned to either a control (CON; n=9) or experimental (EXP; n=8) group. Each group participated in a 28-day aerobic training program of daily 1-h exercise (50% of peak power output). During the training period, the EXP group slept at a simulated altitude of 2800 meters (week 1) to 3400 m (week 4) above sea level. Normoxic (CIVD(NOR); CON and EXP groups) and hypoxic (CIVD(HYPO); F(I)O(2)=0.12; EXP group only) CIVD characteristics were assessed before and after the training period during a 30-min immersion of the hand in 8°C water. After the intervention, the EXP group had increased average finger skin temperature (CIVD(NOR): +0.5°C; CIVD(HYPO): +0.5°C), number of waves (CIVD(NOR): +0.5; CIVD(HYPO): +0.6), and CIVD amplitude (CIVD(NOR): +1.5°C; CIVD(HYPO): +3°C) in both CIVD tests (p<0.05). In contrast, the CON group had an increase in only the CIVD amplitude (+0.5°C; p<0.05). Thus, the enhancement of aerobic performance combined with altitude acclimatization achieved with the sleep high-train low regimen contributed to an improved finger CIVD response during cold-water hand immersion in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of respiratory muscle endurance training on endurance exercise performance in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Eighteen healthy males were stratified for age and aerobic capacity; and randomly assigned either to the respiratory muscle endurance training (RMT = 9) or to the control training group (CON = 9). Both groups trained on a cycle-ergometer 1 h day(-1), 5 days per week for a period of 4 weeks at an intensity corresponding to 50% of peak power output. Additionally, the RMT group performed a 30-min specific endurance training of respiratory muscles (isocapnic hyperpnea) prior to the cycle ergometry. Pre, Mid, Post and 10 days after the end of training period, subjects conducted pulmonary function tests (PFTs), maximal aerobic tests in normoxia (VO(2max)NOR), and in hypoxia (VO(2max)HYPO; F(I)O(2) = 0.12); and constant-load tests at 80% of VO(2max)NOR in normoxia (CLT(NOR)), and in hypoxia (CLTHYPO). Both groups enhanced VO(2max)NOR (CON: +13.5%; RMT: +13.4%), but only the RMT group improved VO(2max)HYPO Post training (CON: -6.5%; RMT: +14.2%). Post training, the CON group increased peak power output, whereas the RMT group had higher values of maximum ventilation. Both groups increased CLT(NOR) duration (CON: +79.9%; RMT: +116.6%), but only the RMT group maintained a significantly higher CLT(NOR) 10 days after training (CON: +56.7%; RMT: +91.3%). CLT(HYPO) remained unchanged in both groups. Therefore, the respiratory muscle endurance training combined with cycle ergometer training enhanced aerobic capacity in hypoxia above the control values, but did not in normoxia. Moreover, no additional effect was obtained during constant-load exercise.

The hypoxic training regimen used in the present study had no significant effect on altitude and sea level performance.

Based on the results of this study, the IHE does not seem to be beneficial for normoxic and hypoxic performance enhancement.

No abstract

Introduction: Alpine skiers face high speeds, significant forces, natural and unnatural obstacles, and various environmental conditions on the slopes. Thus, they are highly exposed to certain injuries, amongst which the most common are those to the knee followed by injuries to the spine, shins, head, as well as arm and thumb injuries. Purpose: The purpose was to systematically review the scientific literature on injuries, risk factors, and prevention in competitive alpine skiing and to provide recommendations for injury prevention in the field of physical preparation, kinesiotherapy, and/or specific exercises, and to determine which exercise program would be most appropriate for an alpine ski racer. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and COBISS databases were used with PRISMA method to review the physical therapy recommendations for injury prevention in alpine skiing. Results: 10 studies were included in the final systematic review. We have not found any evidence-based prevention programs that are not older than 10 years on the topic of physical preparation for alpine ski racers. We found that most often, the literature describes prevention in terms of equipment, course preparation, course safety awareness, and the experience of the skier. Conclusions: The recommendation for the most efficient prevention according to the current literature is to follow the above preventive measures in combination with appropriate physical preparation, where we recommend relying on research evidence in other (non-contact) sports that have similar injury mechanisms as alpine ski racing.

Pri zdravstveno ranljivejših populacijah, kot so starejši odrasli s sindromom krhkosti, je pomembno posebno pozornost nameniti ustreznemu prizadevanju za zaščito pred okužbo z virusom ali zmanjšanju zdravstvenih posledic hudega akutnega respiratornegasindroma SARS-CoV-2, ki sproži koronavirusno bolezen 2019 (covid-19). Primeri zgodnje smrti se pojavljajo predvsem pri starejših odraslih s sindromom krhkosti, ki vpliva na intenzivnejše napredovanje virusne okužbe. Uporabljena je bila deskriptivna metoda, ki temelji na pregledu znanstvene literature. Po diagramu PRISMA je bilo v analizo vključenih 8 znanstvenih člankov. Vključitvena merila pri izboru člankov so vključevala metaanalize in pregledna dela, v katerih so avtorji preučevali povezavo med krhkostjo in covidom-19 pri starejših osebah nad 65 let s sindromom krhkosti. Rezultati raziskav izpostavljajo predvsem povezavo med stopnjo krhkosti in mortaliteto pri pacientih s covidom-19. Izpostavljena je tudi povezava med krhkostjo in daljšo hospitalizacijo, sprejemom na oddelek za intenzivno terapijo, delirijem in slabšim izidom zdravljenja. V kliničnem okolju je potrebno starejšim odraslim s covidom-19 čim prej omogočiti večkomponentno zdravstveno obravnavo.