The Effects of Intermittent Hypoxic Training on Anaerobic and Aerobic Power in Boxers

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) on anaerobic and aerobic fitness in elite, national boxers. Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 6 weeks. It comprised 30 national championship boxers, divided into 2 groups: the experimental and control. Both groups performed the same boxing training twice a day (morning and afternoon training). In the afternoon, the experimental group performed training under normobaric conditions in a hypoxic chamber (IHT), while the control group undertook exercise in standard normoxic conditions. In both groups, before and after the 6-week programme, basic anthropometric indices as well as anaerobic (Wingate Test) and aerobic (graded test) fitness were assessed. Results: There was a significant increase in anaerobic peak power (988.2 vs. 1011.8 W), mean anaerobic power (741.1 vs. 764.8 W), total work (22.84 vs. 22.39 kJ), and a decrease in fatigue index (20.33 vs. 18.6 W·s−1) as well as time to peak power (5.01 vs. 4.72 s). Such changes were not observed in the control group. In both groups, no significant changes in endurance performance were noted after the training session – peak oxygen uptake did not significantly vary after IHT. Conclusions: Our results have practical application for coaches, as the IHT seems to be effective in improving anaerobic performance among boxers.

The Impact of Four High-Altitude Training Camps on the Aerobic Capacity of a Short Track PyeongChang 2018 Olympian: A Case Study

“…This, in turn, is associated with the body’s defensive responses (increase in minute ventilation of the lungs and the heart rate), which forces it to be much more functional during physical exertion [ 6 ]. Increasing the effort of the body is a natural mechanism aimed to prevent hypoxia in the body’s systems, organs, or tissues, and the deterioration of their functions [ 7 ].…”

“…Increasing the effort of the body is a natural mechanism aimed to prevent hypoxia in the body’s systems, organs, or tissues, and the deterioration of their functions [ 7 ]. During training in high altitude conditions and with increased load, the body experiences fatigue faster, which increases the effect of the training stimulus, stimulates the compensatory mechanisms more efficiently, and consequently leads to adaptive changes conducive to better oxygen transport and improvement in physical efficiency [ 6 , 8 ]. Paradoxically, one of the effects of high-altitude training is the reduction in oxygen demand (economizing motor activities) and a decrease in the ability to maximize acidification, enabling extension of the working time during a training session [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Optimal type and dose of hypoxic training for improving maximal aerobic capacity in athletes: a systematic review and Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis

“…First, the effectiveness of IHT may arise from its specific underlying mechanism or methodological design (Czuba, Fidos-Czuba et al, 2018). Unlike HH and HL, numerous studies have indicated that the hypoxic exposure of IHT is inadequate to substantially alter hematological parameters (Czuba et al, 2014;Czuba et al, 2019;Ambroży et al, 2020;Kim et al, 2021;Park et al, 2022;Teległów et al, 2022), and the potential mechanism for enhancing aerobic capacity primarily involves specific molecular adaptations in peripheral tissues (Ponsot et al, 2006;Zoll et al, 2006;Neya et al, 2007). It is worth noting that Czuba et al posited that a hematological mechanism is more effective in enhancing aerobic capacity (Czuba et al, 2018), and the diverse adaptations due to IHT contributes greatly to exercise (Green et al, 2000;Hamlin et al, 2010;Park et al, 2016;Saunders et al, 2004), which can also serve as a valuable metric for evaluating aerobic performance (Levine and Stray-Gundersen, 2005).…”

Clinical Efficacy of Nutritional Intervention Combined with Muscle Exercise on Sarcopenia Patients with Femoral Fracture: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Furthermore, muscle exercise is also very important for improving symptoms in patients with sarcopenia. On the one hand, regular aerobic training can improve the activity of muscle mitochondrial enzymes, increase capillary density, promote nerve repair and motor unit mobility, thereby increasing skeletal muscle strength and exercise capacity [28,29]. On the other hand, regular resistance exercise can maintain and improve the muscle strength quality of middle-aged and elderly people [30,31].…”