A programme based on repeated hypoxia–hyperoxia exposure and light exercise enhances performance in athletes with overtraining syndrome: a pilot study

Abstract

Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is a major concern among endurance athletes and is a leading cause in preventing them to perform for long periods. Intermittent exposure to hypoxia has been shown to be an effective way of improving performance without exercising. Aim of this pilot study was to evaluate intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training combined with light exercise as an intervention to facilitate athletes with OTS to restore their usual performance level. Thirty-four track and field athletes were recruited: 15 athletes with OTS volunteered to participate and undertook a conditioning programme consisting of repeated exposures to hypoxia (O at 10%) and hyperoxia (O at 30%) (6-8 cycles, total time 45 min-1 h), three times a week, delivered 1·5-2 h after a low-intensity exercise session (2 bouts of 30 min, running at 50% of VO with 10 min rest between bouts) over 4 weeks. Nineteen healthy track and field athletes volunteered to participate as a control group and followed their usual training schedule. Measurements before and after the intervention included exercise capacity, analysis of heart rate variability and hematological parameters. In athletes with OTS, a 4-week light exercise combined with intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training improved exercise performance (191·9 ± 26·9 W versus 170·8 ± 44·8 W in exercise capacity test, P = 0·01). Heart rate variability analysis revealed an improved sympatho-parasympathetic index (low frequency/high frequency ratio, 8·01 ± 7·51 before and 1·45 ± 1·71 after, P = 0·007). Hematological parameters were unchanged. Our pilot study showed that intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training and low-intensity exercise can facilitate functional recovery among athletes with OTS in a relatively short time.

Effects of Modest Hypoxia and Exercise on Cardiac Function, Sleep-Activity, Negative Geotaxis Behavior of Aged Female Drosophila

“…Exercise therapy is expected to improve skeletal muscle performance and maintain mobility in both humans and rodent models (Adams et al, 2008;Piazza et al, 2009). A recent study has shown that hypoxic exposure is an effective way to improve performance without exercising (Susta et al, 2017). Similarly, our study has shown that both exercise and NH could significantly improve the climbing ability of aged flies (Figure 5).…”

“…However, the effect of hypoxia combined with exercise remains unclear. Some studies have shown that intermittent moderate hypoxic exposure with low-intensity exercise can promote aerobic exercise ability (Casas et al, 2000) or intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training and low-intensity exercise can promote the functional recovery of overtraining syndrome in athletes (Susta et al, 2017), suggesting that hypoxia combined with lower-intensity exercise may produce better results (Jones and Grotewiel, 2011), which may also guide our future research investigations on hypoxia-exercise.…”

Adaptations following an intermittent hypoxia‐hyperoxia training in coronary artery disease patients: a controlled study

“…Exposure to normobaric intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) has been shown to improve exercise capacity without exercising in the elderly and in cardiac patients . IHT also positively affects autonomic nervous system functioning in various patients . This technique consists of intermittent exposures to hypoxic–normoxic stimuli (1 cycle of up to 5 hypoxic exposures lasting at least 5–6 minutes, followed by at least 5–6 minutes of normoxic air breathing) repeated almost daily (4–5 days a week) over 2 to 3 weeks.…”

“…In our study we used normobaric intermittent hypoxic‐hyperoxic training (IHHT) as a new alternative treatment. Replacing normoxia with hyperoxia during intermittent exposure to hypoxia has been proven to be effective in preliminary studies focused on exercise performance . This new approach is more convenient than IHT, as the recovery time between bouts of exposure to hypoxia is shortened to 3 minutes, allowing for a higher number of hypoxia–hyperoxia cycles during the same session.…”

Fitness and therapeutic potential of intermittent hypoxia training: a matter of dose

“…Susta et al [32] investigated sportsmen with overtraining syndrome with application a conditioning program consisting of repeated exposures to hypoxia (10% FiO 2 ) and hyperoxia (30% FiO 2 ) , 6-8 cycles (total time 45 min -1 h), three times a week, delivered 1·5-2 h after a low-intensity exercise session over 4 weeks.…”