Repeated-sprint training in hypoxia boosts up team-sport-specific repeated-sprint ability: 2-week vs 5-week training regimen

Qingde Shi, Tomas K. Tong, Jinlei Nie, Dan Tao, Haifeng Zhang, Xiaoying Tan, Zhaowei Kong*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Purpose: To investigate (1) the boosting effects immediately and 4 weeks following 2-week, 6-session repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH2-wk, n = 10) on the ability of team-sport players in performing repeated sprints (RSA) during a team-sport-specific intermittent exercise protocol (RSAIEP) by comparing with normoxic counterpart (CON2-wk, n = 12), and (2) the dose effects of the RSH by comparing the RSA alterations in RSH2-wk with those resulting from a 5-week, 15-session regimen (RSH5-wk, n = 10). Methods: Repeated-sprint training protocol consisted of 3 sets, 5 × 5-s all-out sprints on non-motorized treadmill interspersed with 25-s passive recovery under the hypoxia of 13.5% and normoxia, respectively. The within- (pre-, post-, 4-week post-intervention) and between- (RSH2-wk, RSH5-wk, CON2-wk) group differences in the performance of four sets of RSA tests held during the RSAIEP on the same treadmill were assessed. Results: In comparison with pre-intervention, RSA variables, particularly the mean velocity, horizontal force, and power output during the RSAIEP enhanced significantly immediate post RSH in RSH2-wk (5.1–13.7%), while trivially in CON2-wk (2.1–6.2%). Nevertheless, the enhanced RSA in RSH2-wk diminished 4 weeks after the RSH (− 3.17–0.37%). For the RSH5-wk, the enhancement of RSA immediately following the 5-week RSH (4.2–16.3%) did not differ from that of RSH2-wk, yet the enhanced RSA was well-maintained 4-week post-RSH (0.12–1.14%). Conclusions: Two-week and five-week RSH regimens could comparably boost up the effects of repeated-sprint training in normoxia, while dose effect detected on the RSA enhancement was minimal. Nevertheless, superior residual effects of the RSH on RSA appear to be associated with prolonged regimen.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2699-2710
    Number of pages12
    JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology
    Volume123
    Issue number12
    Early online date29 Oct 2023
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023

    Scopus Subject Areas

    • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
    • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
    • Physiology (medical)

    User-Defined Keywords

    • High-intensity interval training
    • Intermittent hypoxic training
    • Team sports
    • Training volume
    • Yo–Yo intermittent recovery test

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