title: A programme based on repeated hypoxia-hyperoxia exposure and light exercise enhances performance in athletes with overtraining syndrome: a pilot study.
abstract: Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is a major concern among endurance athletes and is a leading cause in preventing them to perform for long periods. Intermittent exposure to hypoxia has been shown to be an effective way of improving performance without exercising. Aim of this pilot study was to evaluate intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training combined with light exercise as an intervention to facilitate athletes with OTS to restore their usual performance level. Thirty-four track and field athletes were recruited: 15 athletes with OTS volunteered to participate and undertook a conditioning programme consisting of repeated exposures to hypoxia (O2at 10%) and hyperoxia (O2at 30%) (6-8 cycles, total time 45 min-1 h), three times a week, delivered 1·5-2 h after a low-intensity exercise session (2 bouts of 30 min, running at 50% of VO2maxwith 10 min rest between bouts) over 4 weeks. Nineteen healthy track and field athletes volunteered to participate as a control group and followed their usual training schedule. Measurements before and after the intervention included exercise capacity, analysis of heart rate variability and hematological parameters. In athletes with OTS, a 4-week light exercise combined with intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training improved exercise performance (191·9 ± 26·9 W versus 170·8 ± 44·8 W in exercise capacity test, P = 0·01). Heart rate variability analysis revealed an improved sympatho-parasympathetic index (low frequency/high frequency ratio, 8·01 ± 7·51 before and 1·45 ± 1·71 after, P = 0·007). Hematological parameters were unchanged. Our pilot study showed that intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training and low-intensity exercise can facilitate functional recovery among athletes with OTS in a relatively short time.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Performance, Athletic Therapy and Training Programme, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Susta
authors.affiliation: Department of Normal Physiology, School of Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dudnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Normal Physiology, School of Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Oleg S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Glazachev
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: athletic performance; cardiac autonomic control; exercise tolerance; heart rate variability; intermittent hypoxic training; recovery of function