The effects of drop jump training with different hypoxic levels on the 6-s maximal cycling power test

Abstract

Strength training applied with hypoxia can offer potential advantages, especially for anaerobic efforts. However, there is uncertainty in the literature about whether high hypoxia may have harmful effects or low hypoxia may be ineffective. This study aimed to examine the impact of 8-week drop jump (DJ) training applied at different normobaric hypoxia levels on maximal anaerobic effort and to reveal the differences between low and high hypoxic training results. Nineteen team-sports athletes performed 8 weeks of DJ training under low normobaric hypoxic (Low-H, n=8), normobaric normoxic (NN, n=6), or high normobaric hypoxic (High-H, n=5) conditions (corresponding to SpO2 of 90%, 97-100%, and 80%, respectively), two times per week. We used a hypoxicator, which has a biofeedback control system that can be set to supply these breathing conditions. Training sessions started with a 10-minute warm-up, and participants were exposed to breathing conditions during the warm-up in addition to DJ exercises. We started with 1x6 DJs in the first week and finished with 2x8 in the 8th week. A Wattbike 6-second max effort anaerobic power test was conducted on a cycle ergometer pre- and post-training. Before testing, participants performed a 5-minute warm-up at a light intensity. The warm-up included two acceleration phases lasting 3 seconds, which started after 90 and 180 seconds. After the warm-up, participants performed maximal cycling in a seated position for 6 seconds. Peak power, average power, and cadence were recorded. Two sprints were completed, and the best one was used for the analysis. This study was granted by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) (No: 1059B191900892). While pre-test peak power was found to be 989.7±158.0 W for the NN group, 1090.4±189.7 W for the High-H group, and 1026.6±267.9 W for the Low-H group, posttest peak power was found to be 947.0±113.0 W for the NN group, 1156.4±225.4 W for the High-H group, and 1065.8±245.0 W for the Low-H group. As a result of mixed-design repeated measures ANOVA, we found no significant difference between pre- and post-tests and any training groups for the variables of the anaerobic power test (p>0.05). It can be concluded that DJ training applied with either low or high hypoxia did not enhance the 6-second anaerobic power test results more than that with normoxia