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Acute performance responses to repeated treadmill sprints in hypoxia with varying inspired oxygen fractions, exercise-to-recovery ratios and recovery modalities

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

For optimizing the quality of repeated-sprint training in hypoxia, the differences in the acute performance responses to a single session of repeated-sprint exercise with various (i) inspired oxygen fractions; (ii) exercise-to-recovery (E:R) ratios and (iii) recovery modalities were examined.

Methods

Ten male participants performed three sets, 5 × 5-s all-out treadmill sprints, E:R ratio of 1:5, passive recovery, in seven trials randomly. In four of the seven trials, hypoxic levels were set corresponding to sea level (SL1:5P), 1500 (1.5K1:5P), 2500 (2.5K1:5P), and 3500 m (3.5K1:5P), respectively. In a further two trials, the hypoxic level of 3.5K1:5P was maintained, while the E:R ratio was reduced to 1:4 (3.5K1:4P) and 1:3 (3.5K1:3P), respectively. In the last trial, the passive recovery mode of 3.5K1:5P was changed to active (3.5K1:5A).

Results

In comparison to SL1:5P, the averaged peak velocity (P-Vel), mean velocity (M-Vel), and velocity decrement score (Sdec) of the sprints, and the cumulative HR-based training impulse (cTRIMP) in 1.5K1:5P and 2.5K1:5P were well maintained. Minor decrement in the M-Vel was found in 3.5K1:5P. Conversely, lowered E:R ratio in 3.5K1:4P and 3.5K1:3P significantly reduced the P-Vel (≥ −2.3%, Cohen’s d ≥ 0.43) and M-Vel (≥ −2.4%, ≥ 0.49), and in 3.5K1:3P altered the Sdec (107%, ≥ 0.96), and cTRIMP (−16%, 1.39), when compared to 3.5K1:5P. Furthermore, mild reductions in M-Vel (−2.6%, 0.5) was observed in 3.5K1:5A using the active recovery mode. Other variables did not change.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that a 3.5K1:5P marginally maintained sea-level training loads, and as a result, could maximally optimize the training stress of hypoxia.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AU:

Arbitrary units

cTRIMP:

Cumulative training impulse

E:R ratio:

Exercise-to-recovery ratio

FIO2 :

Inspired oxygen fraction

HR:

Heart rate

HRmax :

Maximum heart rate

M-Vel:

Average value of mean velocity

PCr:

Phosphocreatine

P-Vel:

Average value of peak velocity

RS:

Repeated-sprint ability

RSH:

Repeat-sprint training in hypoxia

Sdec:

Velocity decrement score

SpO2 :

Peripheral capillary O2 saturation

s-RPE:

Session ratings of perceived exertion

SSRSH :

A single-session of RSH

\(\dot{\text{V}}\)̇Emax :

Maximum minute ventilation

\(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max :

Maximum oxygen uptake

ΔLa:

Changes in blood lactate

ηρ2 :

Partial eta squared

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Acknowledgements

The experiments were carried out at Dr. Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness. The authors wish to thank all the participants for volunteering. The authors also thank Mr. Lee Ho Leung for his assistance in data collection.

Funding

No source of funding was used to assist in the preparation of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness DLB110, L1, David C. Lam Bldg. Shaw Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University, Renfrew Rd., Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

    Tomas K. Tong, Bik C. Chow & Jojo J. Jiao

  2. Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

    Tomas K. Tong, Bik C. Chow & Julien S. Baker

  3. Physical Education Department, Liaoning Normal University, Liaoning, China

    Emma D. Tao

Authors
  1. Tomas K. Tong
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  2. Emma D. Tao
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  3. Bik C. Chow
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  4. Julien S. Baker
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  5. Jojo J. Jiao
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Contributions

Conception and design of research: TKT and ET; acquisition of data: TKT, ET, and JJJ; formal analysis of data: TKT; interpretation of data: TKT and ET; writing of the original draft: TKT, ET and JJJ; review and editing of manuscript: TKT, BCC and JSB; supervision of research: TKT, BCC and JSB.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomas K. Tong.

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Conflicts of interest

No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the authors.

Ethics approval

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Committee on the Use of Human and Animal Subjects in Teaching and Research at Hong Kong Baptist University. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Communicated by Philip D. Chilibeck.

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Tong, T.K., Tao, E.D., Chow, B.C. et al. Acute performance responses to repeated treadmill sprints in hypoxia with varying inspired oxygen fractions, exercise-to-recovery ratios and recovery modalities. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 1933–1942 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04628-1

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