title: Swimmers can train in hypoxia at sea level through voluntary hypoventilation.
abstract: This study used an innovative technique of pulse oximetry to investigate whether swimmers can train under hypoxic conditions through voluntary hypoventilation (VH). Ten trained subjects performed a front crawl swimming series with normal breathing (NB), VH at high (VHhigh) and low pulmonary volume (VHlow). Arterial oxygen saturation was continuously measured via pulse oximetry (SpO2) with a waterproofed forehead sensor. Gas exchanges were recorded continuously and lactate concentration ([La]) was assessed at the end of each test. In VHlow, SpO2 fell down to 87% at the end of the series whereas it remained above 94% in VHhigh during most part of the series. Ventilation, oxygen uptake and end-tidal O2 pressure were lower in both VHhigh and VHlow than in NB. Compared to NB, [La] significantly increased in VHlow and decreased in VHhigh. This study demonstrated that swimmers can train under hypoxic conditions at sea level and can accentuate the glycolytic stimulus of their training if they perform VH at low but not high pulmonary volume.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris 13 Nord, Sorbonne Paris Cité, EA2363, Laboratoire "Réponses cellulaires et fonctionnelles à l'hypoxie", UFR-SMBH, Bobigny, France. Electronic address: xwoorons@laposte.net.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Woorons
authors.forename: François-Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Gamelin
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamberto
authors.forename: Aurélien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Richalet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007040:Hypoventilation; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arterial oxygen saturation; Breath holding; Hypoxemia; Swimming