The Effects of High Intensity Interval Training in Normobaric Hypoxia on Aerobic Capacity in Basketball Players

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of 3-week high intensity interval training in normobaric hypoxia (IHT) on aerobic capacity in basketball players. Twelve male well trained basketball players, randomly divided into a hypoxia (H) group (n=6; age: 22±1.6 years; VO2max: 52.6±3.9 ml/kg/min; body height – BH: 188.8±6.1 cm; body mass – BM: 83.9±7.2 kg; % of body fat – FAT%: 11.2±3.1%), and a control (C) group (n=6; age: 22±2.4 years; VO2max: 53.0±5.2 ml/kg/min; BH: 194.3 ± 6.6 cm; BM: 99.9±11.1 kg; FAT% 11.0±2.8 %) took part in the study. The training program applied during the study was the same for both groups, but with different environmental conditions during the selected interval training sessions. For 3 weeks, all subjects performed three high intensity interval training sessions per week. During the interval training sessions, the H group trained in a normobaric hypoxic chamber at a simulated altitude of 2500 m, while the group C performed interval training sessions under normoxia conditions also inside the chamber. Each interval running training sessions consisted of four to five 4 min bouts at 90% of VO2max velocity determined in hypoxia (vVO2max-hyp) for the H group and 90% of velocity at VO2max determined in normoxia for the group C. The statistical post-hoc analysis showed that the training in hypoxia caused a significant (p<0.001) increase (10%) in total distance during the ramp test protocol (the speed was increased linearly by 1 km/h per 1min until volitional exhaustion), as well as increased (p<0.01) absolute (4.5%) and relative (6.2%) maximal workload (WRmax). Also, the absolute and relative values of VO2max in this group increased significantly (p<0.001) by 6.5% and 7.8%. Significant, yet minor changes were also observed in the group C, where training in normoxia caused an increase (p<0.05) in relative values of WRmax by 2.8%, as well as an increase (p<0.05) in the absolute (1.3%) and relative (2.1%) values of VO2max. This data suggest that an intermittent hypoxic training protocol with high intensity intervals (4 to 5 × 4 min bouts at 90% of vVO2max-hyp) is an effective training means for improving aerobic capacity at sea level in basketball players.

The effects of intermittent hypoxia training on hematological and aerobic performance in triathletes

“…Analyzing the effect of IHT on other hematological parameters, we found that our results were in agreement with the study of Hamlin et al (11) which reported a similar increase in Hb, hematocrit and reticulocytes. Moreover, other studies conducted in cyclists (5), team sports players (6,20) and swimmers (27) did not find any change in blood parameters. Specifically, studies conducted on triathletes found contradictory results, as in the present study, increases in Hb, erythrocytes and EPO were measured after a protocol of 10 sessions of 2 h at 2500 meters (17), but after 9 sessions of IHT at a simulated altitude of 4000 meters, values were unmodified (28).…”

“…The concept of altitude or hypoxic training is a common technique used by athletes to improve their aerobic capacity and endurance performance in competition (6). Several strategies of altitude training, like "live high-train high" (LHTH) or "live high-train low" (LHTL) have been proposed (29).…”

“…They are based on adaptive changes of humans to chronic hypoxia (14). Chronic exposure to altitude improves oxygen transport capacity by enhancing erythropoietin secretion and hemoglobin mass and enhancing maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) and exercise performance (6). During the last years several intermittent hypoxia strategies, such as the intermittent hypoxia training (IHT), have been used to increase the athletes' sea level performance (18).…”

Entrenamiento en hipoxia intermitente y rendimiento ciclista en triatletas / Intermittent hypoxic training and cycling performance in triathletes

“…Sin embargo, las conclusiones de los estudios realizados en los últimos años en este campo son discordantes (Czuba et al, 2013). Los trabajos previos que comprueban los efectos en el umbral anaeróbico producidos por los programas de IHT aprecian una clara mejora del rendimiento asociado a esta variable y por lo tanto, están en consonancia con los resultados obtenidos en nuestra investigación.…”

The blood antioxidant defence capacity during intermittent hypoxic training in elite swimmers

“…The training is thought to be most effective when it is performed at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 m [16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intermittent normobaric hypoxia, mimicking reduced oxygen availability at such altitudes, during land training on antioxidant potential in the blood of elite swimmers.…”