The acute effects of repeated static apnea on aerobic power

Abstract

Purpose: Apnea exercises cause a rise in hematocrit, erythropoietin, hemoglobin concentration, lung volume and oxygen store in muscle and blood, and a decrease in blood acidosis and oxidative stress. These types of physiological changes that occur in the body result in developments in both time to exhaustion and V02max. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the acute effect of repeated static apneas on aerobic power. Material: Twenty physically active male university students (age:22.80±3.84 year, height:177.40±7.49 cm and weight:68.20±8.72 kg) volunteered to participate in the current study. They were divided as the static apnea and control groups randomly. The static group performed multistage exercise treadmill test to exhaustion (maximal aerobic power) after three maximal apneas with 2-min interval in sitting position. The control group performed only the maximal aerobic power test without apnea. Their maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max), gas exchange rate (RER), heart beat rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) values were measured during maximal aerobic test. Their hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) values were measured before and immediately after the apnea for both groups. Results: There were no significant differences found between the control and static apnea groups for Vo2max, HR, Hb and Hct. However, RPE values measured after the static apnea were lower (17.55±0.51) than the control (18.75±0.62). Conclusions: The repeated static apneas immediately prior the maximal aerobic effort cannot increase aerobic power in untrained breath hold participants. However, the lower RPE after static apnea may be used as an ergogenic effect.

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