A 2-week repeated sprint training program improved peak aerobic power and anaerobic capacity, but the addition of systemic hypoxia or blood flow restriction did not provide further benefits compared to normoxic training.
RCT (n=39)
Open-label
Stratified simple randomization
No
Does repeated sprint training with blood flow restriction or hypoxia improve exercise response compared to repeated sprint training alone in endurance-trained athletes?
Adding blood flow restriction or hypoxia to short-term repeated sprint training does not provide additional benefits to peak aerobic power or exercise duration in endurance-trained athletes.
p-value: p=>0.05
Abstract This study compared the effects of a brief repeated sprint training (RST) intervention performed with bilateral blood flow restriction (BFR) conditions in normoxia or conducted at high levels of hypoxia on response to exercise. Thirty-nine endurance-trained athletes completed six repeated sprints cycling sessions spread over 2 weeks consisting of four sets of five sprints (10-s maximal sprints with 20-s active recovery). Athletes were assigned to one of the four groups and subjected to a bilateral partial blood flow restriction (45% of arterial occlusion pressure) of the lower limbs during exercise (BFRG), during the recovery (BFRrG), exercised in a hypoxic room simulating hypoxia at FiO 2 ≈ 13% (HG) or were not subjected to additional stress (CG). Peak aerobic power during an incremental test, exercise duration, maximal accumulated oxygen deficit and accumulated oxygen uptake ( VO 2 ) during a supramaximal constant-intensity test were improved thanks to RST ( p 0.05). No further effect was found on other variables including time-trial performance and parameters of the force-velocity relationship ( p > 0.05). Thus, peak aerobic power, exercise duration, maximal accumulated oxygen deficit, and VO 2 were improved during a supramaximal constant-intensity exercise after six RST sessions. However, combined hypoxic stress or partial BFR did not further increase peak aerobic power.
Giovanna et al. (2022) conducted an RCT in Healthy endurance-trained athletes (n=39). Repeated sprint training (RST) in hypoxia or with blood flow restriction vs. RST in normoxia without additional stress was evaluated on Peak aerobic power (p=>0.05). A 2-week repeated sprint training program improved peak aerobic power and anaerobic capacity, but the addition of systemic hypoxia or blood flow restriction did not provide further benefits compared to normoxic training.