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Effect of acute normobaric hypoxia on the ventilatory threshold

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the response of the ventilatory threshold (VT) to acute normobaric hypoxia and compared the agreement between software-based algorithms which use automatic detection to identify the VT. Results were used to examine whether the VT can be used as a physiological parameter to prescribe and monitor exercise intensity in hypoxic exercise training programs.

Methods

Fourteen untrained individuals (7 women, 7 men; age 22 ± 2 years, \(\dot{V}\)O2peak 46 ± 7 mL kg−1 min−1) completed five identical graded exercise tests (randomized order) on a cycle ergometer to measure VT at sea-level (SL) and in response to four normobaric hypoxic conditions (FIO2: 0.185, 0.165, 0.142, 0.125) equivalent to 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 m. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures.

Results

The VT was similar across all conditions (SL = 1.98 ± 0.46, 1,000 m = 2.03 ± 0.61, 2,000 m = 2.27 ± 0.62, 3,000 m = 1.84 ± 0.50, 4,000 m = 2.29 ± 0.58 L min−1) for all algorithms used despite a reduction in arterial oxygen saturation at 3,000 (P ≤ 0.01) and 4,000 m (P ≤ 0.01) compared with SL values.

Conclusion

The VT appears to be a suitable physiological parameter for exercise prescription in normobaric hypoxia up to an altitude of 4,000 m.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

FIO2 :

Ambient inspiratory oxygen fractions

GXT:

Graded exercise test

H+ :

Hydrogen ion

HR:

Heart rate

HRpeak :

Peak heart rate

HRVT :

Heart rate at ventilatory threshold

RCP:

Respiratory compensation point

RH:

Relative humidity

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

SD:

Standard deviation

SL:

Sea-level

SPO2 :

Arterial oxygen saturation measured using infrared pulse oximetry

t amb :

Ambient temperature

\(\dot{V}\)CO2 :

Rate of carbon dioxide production

\(\dot{V}\)Epeak :

Peak rate of ventilation

\(\dot{V}\)O2 :

Oxygen consumption

\(\dot{V}\)O2 :

Rate of oxygen consumption

\(\dot{V}\)O2peak :

Peak rate of oxygen consumption

\(\dot{V}\)O2VT :

Rate of oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold

\(\dot{W}\) peak :

Peak power output

VT:

Ventilatory threshold

W VT :

Power at ventilatory threshold

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Acknowledgments

There were no external funding sources used in the preparation of this article. C A Gallagher is currently receiving financial support in the form of a bursary allowance from the University of Chichester.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interests concerning the preparation of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Chichester, College Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6PE, UK

    Carla A. Gallagher, Mark E. T. Willems & Stephen D. Myers

  2. Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK

    Mark P. Lewis

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  1. Carla A. Gallagher
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  2. Mark E. T. Willems
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  3. Mark P. Lewis
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  4. Stephen D. Myers
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Correspondence to Stephen D. Myers.

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Communicated by Carsten Lundby.

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Gallagher, C.A., Willems, M.E.T., Lewis, M.P. et al. Effect of acute normobaric hypoxia on the ventilatory threshold. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 1555–1562 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2882-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2882-1

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