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PURPOSE: To investigate differences in athletes' knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification. METHODS: Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May-July 2020) assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward training. Sports were classified as team sports (45%), endurance (20%), power/technical (10%), combat (9%), aquatic (6%), recreational (4%), racquet (3%), precision (2%), parasports (1%), and others (1%). Further analysis by sex was performed. RESULTS: During lockdown, athletes practiced body-weight-based exercises routinely (67% females and 64% males), ranging from 50% (precision) to 78% (parasports). More sport-specific technical skills were performed in combat, parasports, and precision (∼50%) than other sports (∼35%). Most athletes (range: 50% [parasports] to 75% [endurance]) performed cardiorespiratory training (trivial sex differences). Compared to prelockdown, perceived training intensity was reduced by 29% to 41%, depending on sport (largest decline: ∼38% in team sports, unaffected by sex). Some athletes (range: 7%-49%) maintained their training intensity for strength, endurance, speed, plyometric, change-of-direction, and technical training. Athletes who previously trained ≥5 sessions per week reduced their volume (range: 18%-28%) during lockdown. The proportion of athletes (81%) training ≥60 min/session reduced by 31% to 43% during lockdown. Males and females had comparable moderate levels of training knowledge (56% vs 58%) and beliefs/attitudes (54% vs 56%). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in athletes' training practices were sport-specific, with few or no sex differences. Team-based sports were generally more susceptible to changes than individual sports. Policy makers should provide athletes with specific training arrangements and educational resources to facilitate remot

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed an online survey that was available from 17 May to 5 July 2020 and explored their training behaviors (training knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and practices), including specific questions on their training intensity, frequency, and session duration before and during lockdown (March-June 2020). RESULTS: Overall, 85% of athletes wanted to "maintain training," and 79% disagreed with the statement that it is "okay to not train during lockdown," with a greater prevalence for both in higher-level athletes. In total, 60% of athletes considered "coaching by correspondence (remote coaching)" to be sufficient (highest amongst world-class athletes). During lockdown, < 40% were able to maintain sport-specific training (e.g., long endurance [39%], interval training [35%], weightlifting [33%], plyometric exercise [30%]) at pre-lockdown levels (higher among world-class, international, and national athletes), with most (83%) training for "general fitness and health maintenance" during lockdown. Athletes trained alone (80%) and focused on bodyweight (65%) and cardiovascular (59%) exercise/training during lockdown. Compared with before lockdown, most athletes reported reduced training frequency (from between five and seven sessions per week to four or fewer), shorter training sessions (from ≥ 60 to < 60 min), and lower sport-specific intensity (~ 38% reduction), irrespective of athlete classification. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19-related lockdowns saw marked reductions in athletic training specificity, intensity, frequency, and duration, with notable within-sample differences (by athlete clas

Monitoring core body temperature (Tc) during training and competitions, especially in a hot environment, can help enhance an athlete’s performance, as well as lower the risk for heat stroke. Accordingly, a noninvasive sensor that allows reliable monitoring of Tc would be highly beneficial in this context. One such novel non‐invasive sensor was recently introduced onto the market (CORE, greenTEG, Rümlang, Switzerland), but, to our knowledge, a validation study of this device has not yet been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the CORE sensor. In Study I, 12 males were subjected to a low‐to‐moderate heat load by performing, on two separate occasions several days apart, two identical 60‐min bouts of steady‐state cycling in the laboratory at 19 °C and 30% relative humidity. In Study II, 13 males were subjected to moderate‐to‐high heat load by performing 90 min of cycling in the laboratory at 31 °C and 39% relative humidity. In both cases the core body temperatures indicated by the CORE sensor were compared to the corresponding values obtained using a rectal sensor (Trec). The first major finding was that the reliability of the CORE sensor is acceptable, since the mean bias between the two identical trials of exercise (0.02 °C) was not statistically significant. However, under both levels of heat load, the body temperature indicated by the CORE sensor did not agree well with Trec, with approximately 50% of all paired measurements differing by more than the predefined threshold for validity of ≤ 0.3 °C. In conclusion, the results obtained do not support the manufacturer’s claim that the CORE sensor provides a valid measure of core body temperature.

Poor musculoskeletal state is commonly observed in numerous clinical populations such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure patients. It, however, remains unresolved whether systemic hypoxemia, typically associated with such clinical conditions, directly contributes to muscle deterioration. We aimed to experimentally elucidate the effects of systemic environmental hypoxia upon inactivity-related muscle wasting. For this purpose, fourteen healthy, male participants underwent three 21-day long interventions in a randomized, cross-over designed manner: (i) bed rest in normoxia (NBR; PiO2 = 133.1 ± 0.3 mmHg), (ii) bed rest in normobaric hypoxia (HBR; PiO2 = 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg) and ambulatory confinement in normobaric hypoxia (HAmb; PiO2 = 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg). Peripheral quantitative computed tomography and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were performed before and after the interventions to obtain thigh and calf muscle cross-sectional areas and muscle fiber phenotype changes, respectively. A significant reduction of thigh muscle size following NBR (-6.9%, SE 0.8%; P < 0.001) was further aggravated following HBR (-9.7%, SE 1.2%; P = 0.027). Bed rest-induced muscle wasting in the calf was, by contrast, not exacerbated by hypoxic conditions (P = 0.47). Reductions in both thigh (-2.7%, SE 1.1%, P = 0.017) and calf (-3.3%, SE 0.7%, P < 0.001) muscle size were noted following HAmb. A significant and comparable increase in type 2× fiber percentage of the vastus lateralis muscle was noted following both bed rest interventions (NBR = +3.1%, SE 2.6%, HBR = +3.9%, SE 2.7%, P < 0.05). Collectively, these data indicate that hypoxia can exacerbate inactivity-related muscle wasting in healthy active participants and moreover suggest that the combination of both, hypoxemia and lack of activity, as seen in COPD patients, might be particularly harmful for muscle tissue., QC 20180601

Previous research, although limited, suggests that both hypoxia and bed rest influence psychological responses by exaggerating negative psychological responses and attenuating positive emotions. The present study investigated the effect of a 21-day prolonged exposure to normobaric hypoxia and bed rest on affective responses and fatigue. Eleven healthy participants underwent three 21-day interventions using a cross-over design: (1) normobaric hypoxic ambulatory confinement (HAMB), (2) normobaric hypoxic bed rest (HBR) and (3) normoxic bed rest (NBR). Affective and fatigue responses were investigated using the Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List, and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, which were completed before (Pre), during (Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21) and after (Post) the interventions. The most negative psychological profile appeared during the HBR intervention. Specifically, tiredness, tension, general and physical fatigue significantly increased on days 7, 14, and 21, as well as at Post. After the HBR intervention, general and physical fatigue remained higher compared to Pre values. Additionally, a deterioration of psychological responses was also noted following HAMB and NBR. In particular, both hypoxia and BR per se induced subjective fatigue and negative affective responses. BR seems to exert a moderate negative effect on the sensation of fatigue, whereas exercise attenuates the negative effects of hypoxia as noted during the HAMB condition. In conclusion, our data suggest that the addition of hypoxia to bed rest-induced inactivity significantly worsens affective responses and feeling of fatigue., Export Date: 9 May 2018; Article; Correspondence Address: Mekjavic, I.B.; Department for Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan InstituteSlovenia; email: igor.mekjavic@ijs.si. QC 20180530

We explored the metagenomic, metabolomic and trace metal makeup of intestinal microbiota and environment in healthy male participants during the run-in (5 day) and the following three 21-day interventions: normoxic bedrest (NBR), hypoxic bedrest (HBR) and hypoxic ambulation (HAmb) which were carried out within a controlled laboratory environment (circadian rhythm, fluid and dietary intakes, microbial bioburden, oxygen level, exercise). The fraction of inspired O2 (FiO2) and partial pressure of inspiredO2 (PiO2) were 0.209 and 133.1 ± 0.3 mmHg for the NBR and 0.141 ± 0.004 and 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg (~4,000 m simulated altitude) for HBR and HAmb interventions, respectively. Shotgun metagenomes were analyzed at various taxonomic and functional levels, 1H-and 13C-metabolomes were processed using standard quantitative and human expert approaches, whereas metals were assessed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Inactivity and hypoxia resulted in a significant increase in the genus Bacteroides in HBR, in genes coding for proteins involved in iron acquisition and metabolism, cell wall, capsule, virulence, defense and mucin degradation, such as beta-galactosidase (EC3.2.1.23), α-L-fucosidase (EC3.2.1.51), Sialidase (EC3.2.1.18), and α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC3.2.1.50). In contrast, the microbial metabolomes, intestinal element and metal profiles, the diversity of bacterial, archaeal and fungal microbial communities were not significantly affected. The observed progressive decrease in defecation frequency and concomitant increase in the electrical conductivity (EC) preceded or took place in absence of significant changes at the taxonomic, functional gene, metabolome and intestinal metal profile levels. The fact that the genus Bacteroides and proteins involved in iron acquisition and metabolism, cell wall, capsule, virulence and mucin degradation were enriched at the end of HBR suggest that both constipation and EC decreased intestinal metal availability leading to modified ex, QC 20180327

Adenosine plays a role in the energy supply of cells and provokes differential, hormone-like functions in circulating cells and various tissues. Its release is importantly regulated by oxygen tension. This renders adenosine and its kinetics interesting to investigate in humans subjected to low oxygen conditions. Especially for space exploration scenarios, hypoxic conditions - together with reduced gravity - represent two foreseen living conditions when planning manned long-duration space missions or planetary habitats. The PlanHab study investigated microgravity through inactivity in bed rest and normobaric hypoxia to examine their independent or combined effect on adenosine and its kinetics. Healthy male subjects (n = 14) completed three 21-day interventions: hypoxic bed rest (HBR); hypoxic ambulatory confinement (HAMB); normoxic bed rest (NBR). The interventions were separated by 4 months. Our hypothesis of a hypoxia-triggered increase in adenosine was confirmed in HAMB but unexpectedly also in NBR. However, the highest adenosine levels were noted following HBR. Furthermore, the percentage of hemolysis was elevated in HBR whereas endothelial integrity markers stayed low in all three interventions. In summary, these data suggest that neocytolysis accounts for these effects while we could reduce evidence for microcirculatory changes., QC 20180223

Letter to the Editor

Environmental hypoxia and inactivity have both been shown to modulate appetite. To elucidate the independent and combined effects of hypoxia and bed rest-induced inactivity on appetite-related hormones and subjective appetite, eleven healthy, non-obese males underwent three experimental interventions in a cross-over and randomized fashion: 1) Hypoxic confinement combined with daily moderate-intensity exercise (HAMB, FiO2 = 0.141 ± 0.004; PiO2 = 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg) 2) Bed rest in normoxia (NBR, FiO2 = 0.209; PiO2 = 133.1 ± 0.3 mmHg) and 3) Bed rest in hypoxia (HBR, FiO2 = 0.141 ± 0.004; PiO2 = 90.0 ± 0.4 mmHg). A mixed-meal tolerance test (MTT), followed by an ad libitum meal were performed before (Pre) and after 16-days (Post) of each intervention. Composite satiety scores (CSS) during the MTT were calculated from visual analogue scores, while fasting and postprandial concentrations of total ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and leptin were quantified from arterialized-venous samples. Postprandial CSS were significantly lower at Post compared to Pre in NBR only (P < 0.05) with no differences observed in ad libitum meal intakes. Postprandial concentrations and incremental area under the curve (AUC) for total ghrelin and PYY were unchanged following all interventions. Postprandial GLP-1 concentrations were only reduced at Post following HBR (P < 0.05) with resulting AUC changes being significantly lower compared to HAMB (P < 0.01). Fasting leptin was reduced following HAMB (P < 0.05) with no changes observed following NBR and HBR. These findings suggest that independently, 16-day of simulated altitude exposure (∼4000 m) and bed rest-induced inactivity do not significantly alter subjective appetite or ad libitum intakes. The measured appetite-related hormones following both HAMB and HBR point to a situation of hypoxia-induced appetite stimulation, although this did not reflect in higher ad libitum intakes. Clinical Tria, QC 20161202

Comments on Crosstalk 26: High intensity interval training does/does not have a role in risk reduction or treatment of disease

It is well-established that different altitude training modalities can improve convective oxygen (O2) transport capacity and physical fitness of athletes (Millet et al., 2010)...

Introduction:Inhabitants of the envisaged planetary habitats will be continuously exposed to reduced gravity and hypoxia. The combined effects of unloading and hypoxia on prooxidant/antioxidant balance are currently unknown. Methods:Healthy female participants underwent the following three, 10-day interventions: i) Normobaric normoxic bed-rest (NBR; n=11; FiO2=0.209) ii) Normobaric hypoxic ambulatory confinement (HAMB; n=9: FiO2~0.141), and iii) Normobaric hypoxic bed-rest (HBR; n=12; FiO2~0.141). Plasma oxidative stress [advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and nitrotyrosine], antioxidant markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)] and nitrites were determined before (Pre), during (Day 2, Day 6), immediately after (Post) and 24-hrs after (Post+1) each campaign. Results:Compared to Pre, the AOPP was only higher on Day 2, Day 6 and Post during the HBR and at Post during the NBR (P<0.05) while the nitrotyrosine was significantly reduced at Post+1 only during the HAMB (P<0.05). Higher levels of SOD were observed during the HAMB at Day 6 and Post+1whereas GPX was reduced at Day 6 and Post during the HBR. Nitrites were significantly higher at Post+1 in the HAMB both, compared to Pre and compared to HBR and NBR (P<0.05). Conclusion:These data suggest that the unloading-induced oxidative stress is exacerbated by exposure to simulated altitude of ~4000m. In addition, even habitual (low) physical activity, performed during hypoxic exposure, seems to blunt hypoxia-related oxidative stress via antioxidant system upregulation., QC 20161021

QC 20151218

Inactivity is know to aggravate insulin resistance. The effects of hypoxia on insulin and glucose metabolism, on the other hand, are not completely understood., QC 20160120

NQC 201601

QC 20160107

PURPOSE: Both acute hypoxia and physical exercise are known to increase oxidative stress. This randomized prospective trial investigated whether the addition of moderate exercise can alter oxidative stress induced by continuous hypoxic exposure. METHODS: Fourteen male participants were confined to 10-d continuous normobaric hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.139 ± 0.003, PIO2 = 88.2 ± 0.6 mm Hg, ∼4000-m simulated altitude) either with (HCE, n = 8, two training sessions per day at 50% of hypoxic maximal aerobic power) or without exercise (HCS, n = 6). Plasma levels of oxidative stress markers (advanced oxidation protein products [AOPP], nitrotyrosine, and malondialdehyde), antioxidant markers (ferric-reducing antioxidant power, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase), nitric oxide end-products, and erythropoietin were measured before the exposure (Pre), after the first 24 h of exposure (D1), after the exposure (Post) and after the 24-h reoxygenation (Post + 1). In addition, graded exercise test in hypoxia was performed before and after the protocol. RESULTS: Maximal aerobic power increased after the protocol in HCE only (+6.8%, P < 0.05). Compared with baseline, AOPP was higher at Post + 1 (+28%, P < 0.05) and nitrotyrosine at Post (+81%, P < 0.05) in HCS only. Superoxide dismutase (+30%, P < 0.05) and catalase (+53%, P < 0.05) increased at Post in HCE only. Higher levels of ferric-reducing antioxidant power (+41%, P < 0.05) at Post and lower levels of AOPP (-47%, P < 0.01) at Post + 1 were measured in HCE versus HCS. Glutathione peroxidase (+31%, P < 0.01) increased in both groups at Post + 1. Similar erythropoietin kinetics was noted in both groups with an increase at D1 (+143%, P < 0.01), a return to baseline at Post, and a decrease at Post + 1 (-56%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence that 2 h of moderate daily exercise training can attenuate the oxidative stress induced by continuous hypoxic exposure., QC 20140131

QC 20150210

Normobaric hypoxic training is routinely used by athletes to improve their altitude and sea level performance. A multitude of schedules are being used, combining inactive and active exposure to hypoxic environments. The live high – train low regimen, in particular, requires athletes to spend a majority of time confined to a normobaric hypoxic environment. Despite the known positive effects of hypoxic training on physical performance, there is a lack of information regarding the influence of hypoxia and physical activity on emotional state. This was the principal aim of the current study. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that physical activity alleviates the hypoxia-induced increases in negative feelings. Fourteen male subjects were confined to 10-day continuous hypoxia (fraction of inspired O2=0.139±0.003; 4000m simulated altitude). Subjects were assigned to either the Hypoxic Confinement: Exercise group (HCE: N=8, two 1 hour training sessions/day at 50% hypoxic peak power output) or the Hypoxic Confinement: Sedentary group (HCS: N=6, no exercise). Subjects were administered the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) tests two days prior to hypoxic confinement (D-2), on days 3 (D3), 7 (D7) and 10 (D10) of hypoxic confinement and on the first day of recovery following the confinement period (R+1). The ANOVA repeated measure of the PANAS determined that positive affect differed significantly across the five time measures between HCS and HCE. Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed that the HCS group elicited a reduction of positive emotion from D-2 to D7 and to D10 with a concomitant increase of negative emotion from D-2 to D10. In addition, an increase of tension from D-2 to D7 and to D10 was revealed in HCS, whereas an increase in tension on D10 was indicated in HCE. Based on the POMS, an increase of depression from D-2 to D7 was found in HCS, whereas no differences were revealed in HCE, among the five time measures., QC 20150220

QC 20150210

QC 20111130

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the 'normobaric oxygen paradox' theory by investigating the effect of a 2-h normobaric O(2) exposure on the concentration of plasma erythropoietin (EPO). Methods: Ten healthy males were studied twice in a single-blinded counterbalanced crossover study protocol. On one occasion they breathed air (NOR) and on the other 100% normobaric O(2) (HYPER). Blood samples were collected Pre, Mid and Post exposure; and thereafter, 3, 5, 8, 24, 32, 48, 72 and 96 h, and 1 and 2 weeks after the exposure to determine EPO concentration. Results: The concentration of plasma erythropoietin increased markedly 8 and 32 h after the NOR exposure (approx. 58% and approx. 52%, respectively, P < 0.05) as a consequence of its natural diurnal variation. Conversely, the O(2) breathing was followed by approx. 36% decrement of EPO 3 h after the exposure (P < 0.05). Moreover, EPO concentration was significantly lower in HYPER than in the NOR condition 3, 5 and 8 h after the breathing intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In contrast to the 'normobaric oxygen paradox' theory, the present results indicate that a short period of normobaric O(2) breathing does not increase the EPO concentration in aerobically fit healthy males. Increased O(2) tension suppresses the EPO concentration 3 and 5 h after the exposure; thereafter EPO seems to change in a manner consistent with natural diurnal variation., QC 20110908

QC 20111130

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of respiratory muscle endurance training on endurance exercise performance in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Eighteen healthy males were stratified for age and aerobic capacity; and randomly assigned either to the respiratory muscle endurance training (RMT = 9) or to the control training group (CON = 9). Both groups trained on a cycle-ergometer 1 h day(-1), 5 days per week for a period of 4 weeks at an intensity corresponding to 50% of peak power output. Additionally, the RMT group performed a 30-min specific endurance training of respiratory muscles (isocapnic hyperpnea) prior to the cycle ergometry. Pre, Mid, Post and 10 days after the end of training period, subjects conducted pulmonary function tests (PFTs), maximal aerobic tests in normoxia ((V) over dotO(2max)NOR), and in hypoxia ((V) over dotO(2max)HYPO; F(I)O(2) = 0.12); and constant-load tests at 80% of (V) over dotO(2max)NOR in normoxia (CLT(NOR)), and in hypoxia (CLT(HYPO)). Both groups enhanced (V) over dotO(2max)NOR (CON: +13.5%; RMT: +13.4%), but only the RMT group improved (V) over dotO(2max)HYPO Post training (CON: -6.5%; RMT: +14.2%). Post training, the CON group increased peak power output, whereas the RMT group had higher values of maximum ventilation. Both groups increased CLT(NOR) duration (CON: +79.9%; RMT: +116.6%), but only the RMT group maintained a significantly higher CLT(NOR) 10 days after training (CON: +56.7%; RMT: +91.3%). CLT(HYPO) remained unchanged in both groups. Therefore, the respiratory muscle endurance training combined with cycle ergometer training enhanced aerobic capacity in hypoxia above the control values, but did not in normoxia. Moreover, no additional effect was obtained during constant-load exercise., QC 20150327

QC 20111130

QC 20111130

INTRODUCTION: Although training in hypoxia has been suggested to improve sea level and altitude performance, most studies have only evaluated its effect on maximal aerobic capacity in either normoxia or hypoxia. The present study evaluated the effect of a live low-train high training regimen on both normoxic and hypoxic endurance performance and aerobic capacity. METHODS: There were 18 male subjects who performed 20 training sessions in either a normoxic (F(IO2) = 0.21) or hypoxic (F(IO2) = 0.12) environment. Both the Control (N = 9) and Hypoxic (N = 9) group subjects trained at an intensity that maintained their heart rate at a level corresponding to that elicited at 50% of peak power output attained in normoxia or hypoxia, respectively. Before, during, upon completion, and 10 d after the protocol, subjects' aerobic capacity (VO2 peak) and endurance performance (80% of VO2 peak) were determined under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD normoxic VO2 peak increased significantly only in the Control group from 45.7 +/- 6.1 to 53.9 +/- 3.9 (ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)), whereas hypoxic VO2 peak did not improve in either group. The Control group exhibited significant improvements in normoxic, but not hypoxic peak power output (PPO) and time to exhaustion, whereas the Hypoxic group only exhibited improvements in normoxic time to exhaustion. During each testing period, we also assessed pulmonary function, selected hematological variables, and anthropometry. There were no significant changes in these variables in either group after the training protocol. CONCLUSION: The hypoxic training regimen used in the present study had no significant effect on altitude and sea level performance., QC 20140924

QC 20150205

Acute exposure to high altitude impairs performance, both aerobic and psychomotor. Consequently preparation of personnel to be deployed to high attitude regions should incorporate a programme of altitude acclimatisation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of several training programmes on sea level and altitude performance: Live low-Train High (LL-TH), Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT), Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT), and Sleep High-Train Low (SH-TL)., QC 20140926

QC 20150210

QC 20150327

"Hypoxic training has been reported to enhance athletes’ altitude and sea-level performance by augmenting oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, as a consequence of increases in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations. However the effect of intermittent hypoxic training on hematological responses remains unresolved." This study investigated the effect of two intermittent hypoxic training regimens on the response of hematological indices. Healthy male Ss (N = 27) were equally assigned to a control group, a live low-train high (LL-TH) group, or a intermittent hypoxic exposure group. Ss performed a one-hour submaximal endurance exercise on a cycle ergometer, five days per week for four weeks, at an intensity corresponding to 50% of normoxic peak power output for the control and intermittent hypoxic exposure groups, and to 50% of hypoxic peak power output for the LL-TH group. Thus, all groups trained at the same relative work rate. The absolute work rate during training was 18-20 W lower for the LL-TH group compared to the other two groups. All groups lived at an altitude of ~300 m above sea level. The control and intermittent hypoxic exposure groups also trained at this altitude, whereas the LL-TH group trained in a hypoxic chamber, breathing a hypoxic mixture (FIO2=12%). In addition to the daily exercise training, the intermittent hypoxic exposure group also inspired a hypoxic gas mixture at rest, and prior to the cycle ergometry. The intermittent hypoxic training comprised breathing a hypoxic mixture during seven phases. Each phase consisted of five minutes of breathing a hypoxic mixture, followed by three minutes of breathing a normoxic gas mixture. Prior to, during, at the end, and 10 days after the training period, blood samples were taken from all Ss in order to measure hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocytes, ferritin, and transferrin concentrations. No significant differences were observed between groups in any measured hematological variables. Similarly, no sign, QC 20150209

QC 20150210

NV 20150429

QC 20150205

QC 20150205

NQC 2015

QC 20150210

NQC 2015