Mask vs. tent: effect of hypoxia method on repeated sprint ability and physiological parameters in cyclists

• Published in: Sport sciences for health Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 1379 - 1394
• Main Authors: Vasquez-Bonilla, Aldo A., Rojas-Valverde, Daniel, Feliu-Ilvonen, Joan M., Timón, Rafael, Olcina, Guillermo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01-12-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Athletes; Bicycling; Carbon dioxide; Coaches & managers; Human Physiology; Humidity; Hypoxia; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Methods; Physiology; Sports Medicine; Tents; Variables; Ventilation; Germany; Hypoxemia; Endurance training; Lactate; Core temperature; Muscle oxygenation; Cycling adaptations
• ISSN: 1824-7490; 1825-1234
• DOI: 10.1007/s11332-024-01218-4

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated sprint in hypoxia (RSH) training in mask vs. tent system on the physiological parameters associated with the cyclist’s performance. Sixteen well-trained cyclists (VO
2
max 66 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min) participated in a randomised and two parallel groups design. Participants were assigned to different hypoxia methods [RSHMask (
n
 = 8) vs RSHTent (
n
 = 8)]. The sprint number and power output were measured during a repeated sprint test to failure before and after the effect of eight sessions of RSH. In addition, the following physiological parameters were evaluated: oxygen consumption (VO
2
), heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO
2
), muscle oxygen saturation (SmO
2
), lactate and core temperature (CoreT°). Linear mixed models were used for repeated measures (
p
value < 0.05), and the effect size (ES) between groups was reported. An inter-individual analysis of participants was also reported. There was an increase in sprint numbers in both groups (ES = 0.167,
p
 = 0.023) and an increase in power output (∑w) in the RSHMask group (ES = 0.095,
p
 = 0.038). The RSHMask group showed improvement in VO
2
recovery (ES = 0.096,
p
 = 0.031) and SmO
2
desaturation % (ES = 0.112,
p
 = 0.042) compared to the RSHTent group. Likewise, 50% of the participants in RSHTent showed adaptations to withstand higher T°Core (+ 0.45°), and eight participants showed lactate decreases between 2.9 and 3.1 mmol/L (−24%) after RSH in both groups. Generally, RSH improves the cyclist’s performance, whether the mask or tent method is used. However, RSHTent has the advantage of causing adaptations in T°Core, whilst RSHMask improves anaerobic performance in the oxygenation of peripheral muscles.