Author(s): BABALIAN, M., BROCHERIE, F., CATALA, C., LOURSAC, R., CHAMBION, D., MILLET, G., PIALOUX, V., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CLAUDE BERNARD LYON 1, Country: FRANCE, Abstract-ID: 973

INTRODUCTION:
Training interventions based on repeated sprint performed in hypoxia (RSH) have regularly demonstrated superior gains in repeated-sprint performance at sea level compared with the same programs conducted under normoxic conditions. Despite these findings, the effectiveness of a short repeated-sprint training block in hypoxia compared to normoxia has only been investigated in female athletes at a training altitude of 5,000m whereas 3,000m is preferentially used for RSH. Therefore, the present study sought to examine whether brief hypoxic repeated-sprint training induces greater improvements in repeated-sprint ability than the same training in normoxic condition in national-level female rugby union players.
METHODS:
Eight elite female rugby union players participated in a randomized, controlled, cross-over study design. Each athlete completed five repeated-sprint training sessions under two environmental conditions: normobaric hypoxia (RSH; simulated altitude 3,000m, FiO2 = 14.5%) and normoxia (RSN; altitude 165m, FiO2 = 20.5%). Repeated-sprint ability was assessed before and after each training condition using a cycle ergometer protocol comprising six maximal 10-second sprints separated by 20-second passive recovery periods. Peak power output (PPO; mean of the best sprint), mean power output (MPO; mean of the six sprints) were recorded and sprint decrement (Sdec; [1 - (MPO/PPO)] × 100)) was calculated.
RESULTS:
Following the hypoxic training condition, PPO exhibited a significant increase between pre- and post-intervention assessments (602 ± 98 to 704 ± 92 W; p = 0.007), whereas no significant change was observed after normoxic training (661 ± 91 to 673 ± 76 W; p = 0.560). MPO demonstrated a comparable response, with a significant improvement after RSH (445 ± 63 to 532 ± 51 W; p = 0.013) but not after RSN (499 ± 88 to 509 ± 63 W; p = 0.557). No meaningful alterations in Sdec were detected following either training condition (RSH: p = 0.819; RSN: p = 0.336).
CONCLUSION:
These findings resulting from a cross-over study indicate that only five sessions of RSH at a simulated altitude of 3,000m is sufficient to induce enhancements in repeated-sprint ability in elite female rugby union players, whereas the same training performed in normoxia does not add similar benefits.