A program of circuit resistance training under hypobaric hypoxia conditions improves the anaerobic performance of athletes

Objective. -Training high living low model has been studied as an intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) for anaerobic performance improvement. To test the hypothesis that a high-intensity circuit strength training (CST) performed in hypoxia increases the anaerobic running performance at sea level. Equipment and methods. -Twelve sub-elite male 400-m runners were divided into two groups: hypoxia (HYP) (n = 6) and control (NOR) (n = 6). Twelve sessions were performed over a period of four weeks (three days/week) without any additional running training. Hypobaric training was performed at a simulated altitude of 3000 m (700 hPa; 10.15 PSI). The anaerobic running performance was tested with a repeated interval running training (RIR). Based on an all-out 300-m test performed before and after CST, the subjects performed as many sets as they could at 90% of the individual maximal speed reached with a three-minute rest period between sets. Results. -As compared to controls, the HYP group showed the following responses post CST: RIR +20.5% (number of sets) (P < 0.03); (HYP: 4.3 +/- 1 to 6.6 +/- 1.9 vs. NOR: 3.6 +/- 1 to 4.6 +/- 1.3), maximal lactate accumulation (in the last set) +8.1% (P < 0.03) (HYP: 11.8 +/- 1 to 15.7 +/- 1.3 vs. NOR: 12.5 +/- 0.9 to 14.6 +/- 1.6). Maximum and recovery heart rates finishing the test and hematology did not show statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). However, CST in HYP showed a higher HRavg (152.6 +/- 6.2) than sea level training (144.4 +/- 5.1) (P < 0.01). Conclusions. -These data indicate that a CST in hypoxia conditions increases the anaerobic performance in trained athletes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.