Author(s): TANG, J., BIAN, C., LIU, S., XUE, Y.Z., LI, Z., GUO, J., CHEN, X.K., LIU, C., TAO, B.X., CAO, C.M., Institution: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY , Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 855

INTRODUCTION:
The application of acute recovery strategies during the rest between the round-robin pool and direct elimination phases of fencing competitions may alleviate cognitive fatigue accumulated in the early phase. Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy(mHBO), characterized by greater safety and lower equipment costs, has potential for acute recovery. However, it remains unclear whether an ecologically valid simulated round-robin pool can effectively induce cognitive fatigue in elite fencers, and whether mHBO administered at lower pressure and shorter duration promotes post-competition recovery. Therefore, this study examined the effects of a simulated round-robin pool on fatigue in Tier 3 elite fencers and evaluated a 30-min mHBO intervention (1.3 ATA, 90% O2) on post-competition fatigue recovery.
METHODS:
This study employed a randomized, single-blind, crossover design. Eighteen Tier 3 elite fencers were recruited following power analysis. After a familiarization session, participants completed two trials involving either a mild hyperbaric oxygen intervention or a control condition, separated by a >48-hour washout period. Fatigue was induced via a simulated, standardized 6-fencer round-robin pool (five consecutive 5-touch bouts per fencer). In the mHBO condition, fencers underwent a 30-min mHBO session post-competition while reading neutral magazines. In the control condition, fencers rested for 30-minute in the fencing hall. Assessments were conducted at three time points: pre-competition (T1), immediate post-competition (T2), and post-intervention (T3). Measurements included Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for mental fatigue(MF) and physical fatigue(PF), a 3-min Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), and a 3-min Fencing-Specific Test (FST). The FST required ten 9-second shuttle sprints, each followed by a lunge hit on randomized sensors on a dummy target. Data were analyzed using two-way (time × condition interactions) repeated measures ANOVA.
RESULTS:
17 participants (5 females, 12 males) completed the study, with 1 dropout. Following the fatigue protocol (T1–T2), significant main effects of time were observed for mental fatigue (MF: F(1, 32) = 34.066, p < 0.001, η² = 0.516) and physical fatigue (PF: F(1, 27) = 36.367, p < 0.001, η² = 0.574), though PVT and FST metrics showed no significant effects (all p > 0.05). During the intervention phase (T2–T3), significant differences were found in MF (p < 0.001) and PF (p = 0.001). The mHBO condition showed greater reductions in MF (48.1% vs. 14.8%) and PF (47.7% vs. 9.2%) compared to the control condition. Additionally, PVT metrics exhibited significant main effects of time (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
Simulated 6-fencer round-robin pool can induce cognitive fatigue. A 30-min mHBO intervention (1.3 ATA, 90%O2）could significantly alleviate accumulated fatigue, optimize cognitive readiness for subsequent elimination. Thus, mHBO could provide an effective acute recovery strategy and long-term fatigue management tool for elite fencers.