Salgado, R., Parker, D., & Quintana, R. (June 03, 2010). An evaluation on the effectiveness of the different hypoxic manipulation models: A meta-analysis. Presentation 1991 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; June 2-5.

This study reported a meta-analysis of hypoxic manipulation model studies to determine if any were effective for improving sea-level performance. Inclusion criteria for evaluation were: 1) a specific hypoxic manipulation model, and 2) performance which was defined as performance in a time-trial or peak power output during a graded exercise test or total work capacity. Twenty-seven hypoxic manipulation studies were included in the analysis which yielded a total of 92 effect sizes.

Models were determined as live-high/train-low, live-high/train-high, live-low/train-high, and intermittent exposure to altitude. Only live-low/train-high was statistically different from the controls in studies; the others not being different to controls.

Implication. Live-low/train high hypoxic training is the only model that has support for influencing sea-level performance.

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