Impact of Six Consecutive Days of Sprint Training in Hypoxia on Performance in Competitive Sprint Runners

Abstract

Abstract Kasai, N, Mizuno, S, Ishimoto, S, Sakamoto, E, Maruta, M, Kurihara, T, Kurosawa, Y, and Goto, K. Impact of six consecutive days of sprint training in hypoxia on performance in competitive sprint runners. J Strength Cond Res 33(1): 36–43, 2019—The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 6 successive days of repeated sprint (RS) training in moderate hypoxia on anaerobic capacity in 100–200-m sprint runners. Eighteen male sprint runners (age, 20.0 ± 0.3 years; height, 175.9 ± 1.1 cm; and body mass, 65.0 ± 1.2 kg) performed repeated cycling sprints for 6 consecutive days in either normoxic (NOR; fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2], 20.9%; n = 9) or hypoxic conditions (HYPO; FiO2, 14.5%; n = 9). The RS ability (10 × 6-second sprints), 30-second maximal sprint ability, maximal oxygen uptake ( max), and 60-m running time on the track were measured before and after the training period. Intramuscular phosphocreatine (PCr) content (quadriceps femoris muscle) was measured by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) before and after the training period. Both groups showed similar improvements in RS ability after the training period (p < 0.05). Power output during the 30-second maximal sprint test and max did not change significantly after the training period in either group. Running time for 0–10 m improved significantly after the training period in the HYPO only (before, 1.39 ± 0.01 seconds; after, 1.34 ± 0.02 seconds, p < 0.05). The HYPO also showed a significant increase in intramuscular PCr content after the training period (before, 31.5 ± 1.3 mM; after, 38.2 ± 2.8 mM, p < 0.05). These results suggest that sprint training for 6 consecutive days in hypoxia or normoxia improved RS ability in competitive sprint runners.