STRENGTH ENDURANCE TRAINING IS NOT IMPROVED IN NORMOBARIC HYPOXIC CONDITIONS

Friedman, B., Borisch, S., Kucera, K., Muller, H., Erb, G., Richter, G, & Baatsch, P. (2001). Strength endurance training in normobaric hypoxia is not superior to equivalent training in normoxia. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(5), Supplement 559 .

After three weeks preparation in normal conditions, males (N = 19) performed resistance training of the quadriceps femoris (low resistance, high repetitions, knee extension) three times a week for four weeks. Ss were divided into two groups: normobaric hypoxia and normoxia. Strength endurance gains were measured as the work performed in an all-out test on an isokinetic device.

Improvements were significant in both conditions, with the hypoxic condition producing larger but not significantly different gains. Cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris only improved significantly in the normoxic condition.

Implication. Strength endurance training is facilitated no better in contrived normobaric hypoxic environments than in normal environments.

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