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Evaluation of hypoxic training protocols

Presented at the Aerospace Medical Association's 80th Annual Scientific Meeting

Introduction.
Acute exposure to high altitude impairs performance, both aerobic and psychomotor. Consequently preparation of personnel to be deployed to high attitude regions should incorporate a programme of altitude acclimatisation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of several training programmes on sea level and altitude performance: Live low-Train High (LL-TH), Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT), Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT), and Sleep High-Train Low (SH-TL).

Methods.
A total of 50 healthy male subjects were assigned to either a control group, or to one of the four training groups. Each group comprised 10 subjects. Subjects conducted daily 1 hr training sessions on a cycle ergometer at a work rate equivalent to 50% of their previously determined peak power output (PPO).

During the one month training programme, they maintained their exercise heart rate at a level corresponding to 50% PPO. Before, during and after the training programme, subjects conducted a VO2max and Endurance test under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Endurance was defined as time to exhaustion when exercising on a cycle ergometer at 80% PPO. Complete haemograms were obtained before, during and after the training programmes

Results.
Compared to the Control group, the LL-TH, IHT and SH-TL groups exhibited an improvement (p<0.05) in hypoxic VO2max.

The SH-TL group also demonstrated improvement (p<0.05) in the endurance test. The LL-TH, RMT and the IHT groups showed no improvement.

Normoxic performance (VO2max, Endurance) improved (p<0.05) only in the SH-TL group, not in the LL-TH, the RMT or in the IHT groups

Improvements in pulmonary function (maximum voluntary ventilation, MVV) were observed in the SH-TL and RMT groups, but not in the LL-TH or IHT groups.

Conclusion.
The optimal method for improving sea level and altitude aerobic performance is SH-TL. It initiated the largest improvements in VO2max and endurance.

Primary Author, Presenting Author:

Igor B. Mekjavic Ph.D.
Jozef Stefan Institute Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics Jamova 39 Ljubljana Slovenia SI-1000

Co-authors:

Stylianos N. Kounalakis, Michail E. Keramidas M.Sc, Mojca Amon M.Sc. Tadej Debevec B.Sc.
Jozef Stefan Institute Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics Jamova 39 Ljubljana Slovenia SI-1000

Bostjan Simunic Ph.D. , Rado Pisot Ph.D.
University of Primorska Garibaldijeva 1 Koper Slovenia SI-1000

Ola Eiken
FOI, Swedish Defence Research Agency Berzeliusvag 13 Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden SE-17177

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