Performance changes in Illinois agility test after short-term inhalation of concentrated oxygen

Abstract

The article summarises the results of research into the impact of continual inhalation of concentrated oxygen on repeated short-term exertion in an Illinois agility test conducted before first exertion, during rest between these exertions and after the end of the last exertion. The probands (n = 11) were tested twice over a period of seven days; each testing session involved three Illinois agility tests, where trajectory of this test was run immediately twice consecutively, lasting about 40 second. The hyperoxic mixture with concentrated oxygen (93 % +3,5 % / -3 %) was supplied by an oxygen concentrator AirSep ® NewLife ® Intensity, which complemented a reservoir. A face mask was connected to the reservois through two-way valve. The placebo was supplied the same way (reservoir, face mask), but the source of air was an air compressor. There was no statistically significant difference in test duration between inhaled hyperoxic mixture and placebo (p ≥ 0.480; d ≤ 0.178). A statistically significant difference in blood lactate concentrations was observed only after the first load (p = 0.037; d = 0.776), no other statistically significant difference was observed (p ≥ 0.320; d ≤ 0.323).