Effect of hyperoxic supplemented interval training on endurance performance in trained cyclists

Andrew E Kilding , Matthew Wood, Graeme Sequira, Darrell Bonetti

Prepared for Sport and Recreation New Zealand by Auckland University of Technology

2010

Sport and Recreation New Zealand

Andrew Kilding

email: andrew.kilding@aut.ac.nz

Training while inspiring hyperoxic gas (increasing O2 availability) is a relatively novel strategy which allows athletes to train at a higher intensity and may possibly improve physiological adaptation and subsequent endurance performance. However, research investigating the effects of hyperoxic training is both limited and conflicting. Specifically, no research to date has been conducted on well-trained athletes, or used appropriate training methodologies throughout the hyperoxic interventions that simulate typical training sessions of athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hyperoxic supplemented interval training on high-intensity endurance performance, and physiological correlates of endurance performance in well-trained cyclists.

A single-blind, randomised control-trial design was adopted. Sixteen well-trained cyclists were randomly assigned to either an experimental group that trained in hyperoxia (HYP) or a sham HYP training group that trained in normoxia (N). Participants were required to visit the laboratory twice per week for four weeks to perform 8 high-intensity interval training sessions in HYP or N. Participants attended the laboratory on four occasions pre-intervention and two visits post intervention for performance (20km time trial) and physiological (incremental step test and Wingate test) assessments.

There were small effects on most physiological measures including VO2peak (1.9 ± 4.3%) and lactate threshold (0.3 ± 8.3%) in HYP. In most instances physiological changes in N were greater than HYP. With respect to performance, there was a small increase in mean power during the 20km TT in HYP (2.1 ± 3.7%) but this was less than that observed for N (4.9 ± 3.9%; ES: -0.44 ± 0.60). During the 60 s all-out test the peak relative power was slightly reduced after HYP (-0.4 ± 1.3%) but not N (0.3 ± 1.6%; ES: -0.24 ± 0.76), whereas there was a tendency for mean relative power to be increased in N (2.3 ± 3.4%) but not HYP (0.3 ± 1.2%; ES: -0.34 ± 0.49).

In conclusion, 8 sessions of hyperoxic supplemented interval training had minimal effect on endurance and anaerobic performance and physiology in trained endurance cyclists compared to training in normoxia. The use of hyperoxic supplemented training at sea-level appears to be not worthwhile for competitive endurance athletes.

Keywords:

Endurance; Cyclists; Hyperoxic

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Experimental

National

High performance, Sport

Men

Professional, Semi-professional

Benefits, Performance, Professionals

Cycling/biking

1210

July 3, 2013

July 18, 2013