A single session of the Wim Hof breathing method did not significantly improve peak power (501.3 vs 501.9 watts, p=0.720) or other anaerobic performance metrics during repeated sprinting compared to spontaneous breathing.
RCT (n=15)
Open-label
Computer-generated sequence
No
Does a single session of the Wim Hof breathing method improve repeated sprint ability in healthy amateur runners?
A single session of the Wim Hof breathing method induces significant physiological changes but does not improve acute anaerobic performance in repeated sprinting.
Absolute Event Rate: 501.3% vs 501.9%
p-value: p=0.720
The Wim Hof breathing method (WHBM) combines periods of hyperventilation (HV) followed by voluntary breath-holds (BH) at low lung volume. It has been increasingly adopted by coaches and their athletes to improve performance, but there was no published research on its effects. We determined the feasibility of implementing a single WHBM session before repeated sprinting performance and evaluated any acute ergogenic effects. Fifteen amateur runners performed a single WHBM session prior to a Repeated Ability Sprint Test (RAST) in comparison to voluntary HV or spontaneous breathing (SB) (control) in a randomized cross-over design. Gas exchange, heart rate, and finger pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) were monitored. Despite large physiological effects in the SpO 2 and expired carbon dioxide (VCO 2 ) levels of both HV and WHBM, no significant positive or negative condition effects were found on RAST peak power, average power, or fatigue index. Finger SpO 2 dropped to 60 ± 12% at the end of the BHs. Upon the last HV in the WHBM and HV conditions, end-tidal CO 2 partial pressure (PETCO 2 ) values were 19 ± 3 and 17 ± 3 mmHg, indicative of respiratory alkalosis with estimated arterial pH increases of +0.171 and of +0.181, respectively. Upon completion of RAST, 8 min cumulated expired carbon dioxide volumes in the WHBM and HV were greater than in SB, suggesting lingering carbon dioxide stores depletion. These findings indicate that despite large physiological effects, a single WHBM session does not improve anaerobic performance in repeated sprinting exercise.
Citherlet et al. (Wed,) conducted a rct in Healthy amateur runners (n=15). Wim Hof breathing method (WHBM) vs. Spontaneous breathing (SB) and voluntary hyperventilation (HV) was evaluated on Peak power (watts) during Repeated Ability Sprint Test (RAST) (p=0.720). A single session of the Wim Hof breathing method did not significantly improve peak power (501.3 vs 501.9 watts, p=0.720) or other anaerobic performance metrics during repeated sprinting compared to spontaneous breathing.