Project Title: Effects of intermittent hyperoxia on performance during a five-minute high-intensity exercise in normobaric hypoxia – a randomized crossover study
July to December 2020
Researcher: Sina Schneider
(Master’s degree in Sports Science, University of Innsbruck, Institute of Sports Science)
Acute high-altitude exposure has detrimental effects on performance during maximal and submaximal aerobic exercise. Therefore, every athlete aims to minimize hypoxia-induced negative effects on performance during aerobic exercise (e.g., during altitude training following the “Live high – train low” concept). An interesting method to minimize or eliminate hypoxia-induced negative effects on performance is the administration of additional oxygen (hyperoxia) before or during physical exertion.
While some studies have investigated these effects during physical exertion in normoxia, only a few studies have focused on exertion under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, it has not yet been investigated what effects non-continuous, but repeated short-term oxygen administrations (intermittent hyperoxia) have on performance.
The aim of this study is therefore to investigate whether intermittent administration of additional oxygen (5 times, for 15 seconds each) during a 5-minute maximal sustained exertion in hypoxia (simulated altitude 3200 m) influences performance compared to placebo.