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Differences in Metabolic Stress Using a Breathing Restrictive Mask Compared to Hypobaric Hypoxia During Cycling at a Matched Workload

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Abstract

Purpose

The Elevation Training Mask (ETM) has been assessed for its impact on exercise performance using acute and training protocols. Although the ETM is widely available to consumers, little research exists for validation of the ETM mask settings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare physiological responses during exercise for the ETM mask settings against moderate hypobaric hypoxia.

Methods

Nine participants living at moderate altitude (1600–1650 m) rested (10 min) and cycled in hypobaric hypoxia simulating 2743 m (ALT), in hypobaric hypoxia simulating 1829 m with the ETM set to 914 m (ALT + ETM), and with the ETM set to 2743 m (ETM) in a randomized order. Participants cycled for 20 min at 60% VO2max as determined by a maximal exertion test (VO2max) at baseline altitude. Oxygen consumption was measured throughout each test.

Results

There were no differences between conditions at rest. Repeated measures ANOVA showed the ALT condition elicited significantly greater VO2 compared to the ETM condition and 60% VO2max at baseline altitude (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

When cycling at a matched workload, the exercising VO2 was higher in the ALT condition than at the ETM mask setting of 2743 m and exercising VO2 during the ETM condition was similar to 60% VO2max at baseline altitude. The results of this study indicate that the ETM did not produce additional metabolic stress compared to hypobaric hypoxia during steady-state exercise in moderate-altitude living individuals.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the University of New Mexico’s Graduate and Professional Student Association for funding this research project through the New Mexico Research Grant.

Funding

University of New Mexico’s Graduate and Professional Student Association’s New Mexico Research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Johnson Center B143 MSC04 2610, Albuquerque, NM, 87131-0001, USA

    Bryanne N. Bellovary, Andrew D. Wells, Zachary J. Fennel, Jonathan M. Houck, Desmond J. Millender, Kelsey C. Bourbeau & Christine M. Mermier

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  1. Bryanne N. Bellovary
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  2. Andrew D. Wells
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  3. Zachary J. Fennel
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  4. Jonathan M. Houck
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  6. Kelsey C. Bourbeau
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  7. Christine M. Mermier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bryanne N. Bellovary.

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The authors state there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

This research study and its protocols were approved by the University of New Mexico’s Office of the Institutional Review Board for human subject research.

Consent to participate

All consent forms used during the study were approved by the University of New Mexico’s Office of the Institutional Review Board for human subject research. All participants gave written informed consent to participate.

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Bellovary, B.N., Wells, A.D., Fennel, Z.J. et al. Differences in Metabolic Stress Using a Breathing Restrictive Mask Compared to Hypobaric Hypoxia During Cycling at a Matched Workload. J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE 4, 397–404 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00116-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00116-2

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