Author(s): SHUQIANG, L., YAN, A., SHILEI, L., JUN, Q., Institution: SHANGHAI INSTITUTION OF SPORTS SCIENCE, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 151

INTRODUCTION:
The Research Objective is to explore the effects of a 4-week living high-training low regimen on rowers sleep, fatigue, and emotional states.This work is part of founding 22dz1204601,Study on exercise fatigue evaluation and recovery based on special environment.
METHODS:
The study involved 18 male rowing athletes, aged 19.3±2.9 years, including 2 national-level athletes, 14 first-level athletes, and 2 second-level or lower athletes. The athletes were randomly divided into a hypoxic sleep group and a control group. The hypoxic sleep group underwent a 4-week intervention with reduced oxygen levels (set at 15.8% oxygen content, equivalent to an altitude of 2500 meters) using a hypoxia generator. The control group had normal oxygen levels during sleep. Both groups followed the same training regimen. A mixed experimental design was used: 2 (hypoxic sleep group, control group) × 3 (one week before the experiment, the second week of the experiment, the fourth week of the experiment). EEG tests of 18 minutes were conducted at these three time points, followed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athletes Sleep Screening Questionnaire AIS-nca, Athlete Burnout Questionnaire ABQ, and Profile of Mood States (POMS) tests to analyze changes in various indicators.
RESULTS:
1.The AIS-nca questionnaire results showed significant main effects for testing time (F=47.372, p<0.001, ƞp2=0.748) and intervention (F=17.693, p=0.001, ƞp2=0.525) in both groups, with no significant interaction between time and intervention (F=1.969, p=0.159, ƞp2=0.11). PSQI analysis revealed significant intervention main effects in total score (F=8.207, p=0.012, ƞp2=0.37), sleep latency (F=4.778, p=0.046, ƞp2=0.254), and use of sleep medication (F=17.5, p=0.001, ƞp2=0.556), with a marginal effect on daytime dysfunction (F=4.516, p=0.052, ƞp2=0.244).
2.Pre- and post-experiment EEG analysis showed no significant differences in neurotransmitter indicators between the two groups during the 4-week period. However, in the hypoxic sleep group, inhibitory neurotransmitter (INH) and norepinephrine (NE) levels tended to rise, while serotonin (5-HT), acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA), and excitatory neurotransmitters (EXC) tended to decrease. No such trends were observed in the control group.
3.The ABQ and POMS results indicated significant intervention effects in the negative evaluation of exercise (F=10.316, p=0.006, ƞp2=0.424) and a marginal effect in the reduced sense of achievement (F=4.495, p=0.052, ƞp2=0.243) in the ABQ. Significant effects were also observed in the self-related emotional components of POMS (F=9.543, p=0.008, ƞp2=0.405), with other tests showing no significant results.
CONCLUSION:
The 4-week living high-training low regimen significantly enhanced the athletes aerobic and anaerobic capacities, positively influencing their athletic performance. However, it negatively impacted sleep quality, increasing fatigue and negative emotions in the athletes.