ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2019 July;59(7):1138-43

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08940-5

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Bench press performance during an intermittent hypoxic resistance training to muscle failure

Ismael MARTÍNEZ-GUARDADO ¹ ✉, Braulio SÁNCHEZ-UREÑA ², Guillermo OLCINA ¹, Alba CAMACHO-CARDENOSA ¹, Marta CAMACHO-CARDENOSA ¹, Rafael TIMÓN ¹

¹ Department of Didactics of the Musical, Plastic and Corporal Expression, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain; ² School of Human Movement Sciences and Quality of Life, National University of Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica

BACKGROUND: Resistance training performed under hypoxia conditions has been shown to cause major metabolic and hormonal responses. However, the influence of hypoxia on an acute session has been barely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of an intermittent hypoxic resistance training (IHRT) to muscle failure on bench press performance.
METHODS: A randomized crossover design was performed, and 25 untrained men performed a resistance training under two different conditions: normoxia (FIO2=21%) and high-level hypoxia (FIO2=13%). Resistance training consisted of 3 sets of 75% 1RM to muscle failure, with a 2-minute rest between sets. Physical performance was assessed by quantifying total repetitions, concentric velocity and power variable during all sets. Arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), capillary blood lactate and muscle soreness were also assessed after training.
RESULTS: Physical performance during bench press did not differ under hypoxic conditions (P>0.05). However, there were significant increases (P<0.05) of RPE (from 7.5±0.8 to 7.9±0.8) and blood lactate concentrations (from 5.5±1.2 to 6.2±1.5 mmol/L) in the hypoxia group.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that hypoxic resistance exercise does not affect exercise performance during bench press exercise. However, influence to perceived exercise intensity and blood lactate concentrations, suggesting that hypoxic resistance training may add substantially to the training dose experienced.

KEY WORDS: Muscle strength; Hypoxia; Athletic performance; Lactates