Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude

Abstract Intermittent hypoxia has been used to enhance oxygen delivery in athletes and patients; however, it is unclear whether acute exposure is sufficient to elicit lasting physiologic adaptation(s). The purpose of this study was to evaluate physiologic response(s) to hypobaric‐hypoxic (HH) exerci...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kelsey E. Joyce, M. Travis Byrd, Courtney M. Wheatley‐Guy, Jesse C. Schwartz, Jordan K. Parks, Bruce D. Johnson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Physiological Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70195
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850199388178087936
author Kelsey E. Joyce
M. Travis Byrd
Courtney M. Wheatley‐Guy
Jesse C. Schwartz
Jordan K. Parks
Bruce D. Johnson
author_facet Kelsey E. Joyce
M. Travis Byrd
Courtney M. Wheatley‐Guy
Jesse C. Schwartz
Jordan K. Parks
Bruce D. Johnson
author_sort Kelsey E. Joyce
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intermittent hypoxia has been used to enhance oxygen delivery in athletes and patients; however, it is unclear whether acute exposure is sufficient to elicit lasting physiologic adaptation(s). The purpose of this study was to evaluate physiologic response(s) to hypobaric‐hypoxic (HH) exercise. Nine participants (4 M/5F; 37.9 ± 12.7 yrs.; 174.3 ± 9.4 cm; 75.3 ± 15.9 kg; 24.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2) were exposed to progressively higher simulated altitudes and completed two HH submaximal exercise sessions (~30 min ea., ≥72 h apart) on a cycle ergometer at the first altitude that posed a significant challenge to them. Altitude was dependent on individual response as determined from heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygenation (SpO2), and the ratio of HR response to SpO2 (HR/SpO2). Statistical analyses included paired samples t‐test (p ≤ 0.05). No significant change in SpO2 (HH‐1: 85 ± 4% vs. HH‐2: 85 ± 4%, p = 0.684) was observed between sessions. However, there were significant decreases in: HR (HH‐1: 150 ± 18 bpm vs. HH‐2: 133 ± 27 bpm, p = 0.001) of 18 bpm (11%); HR/SpO2 (HH‐1: 1.76 ± 0.22 vs. HH‐2: 1.57 ± 0.33, p = 0.012); and RPE (HH‐1: 15 ± 2 vs. HH‐2: 11 ± 4, p = 0.017). While workload significantly increased (HH‐1: 89 ± 36 W vs. HH‐2: 105 ± 36 W, p = 0.024). Some participants had a threshold/challenging altitude, but from a single bout there is evidence of improved tolerance that can last over a week. Further investigation is required to replicate and understand possible mechanisms.
format Article
id doaj-art-14ed4e550a6f4eb3a02fcd8c5ec3c7e8
institution OA Journals
issn 2051-817X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Physiological Reports
spelling doaj-art-14ed4e550a6f4eb3a02fcd8c5ec3c7e82025-08-20T02:12:38ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-04-01137n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70195Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitudeKelsey E. Joyce0M. Travis Byrd1Courtney M. Wheatley‐Guy2Jesse C. Schwartz3Jordan K. Parks4Bruce D. Johnson5Human Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Arizona USASchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UKAbstract Intermittent hypoxia has been used to enhance oxygen delivery in athletes and patients; however, it is unclear whether acute exposure is sufficient to elicit lasting physiologic adaptation(s). The purpose of this study was to evaluate physiologic response(s) to hypobaric‐hypoxic (HH) exercise. Nine participants (4 M/5F; 37.9 ± 12.7 yrs.; 174.3 ± 9.4 cm; 75.3 ± 15.9 kg; 24.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2) were exposed to progressively higher simulated altitudes and completed two HH submaximal exercise sessions (~30 min ea., ≥72 h apart) on a cycle ergometer at the first altitude that posed a significant challenge to them. Altitude was dependent on individual response as determined from heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygenation (SpO2), and the ratio of HR response to SpO2 (HR/SpO2). Statistical analyses included paired samples t‐test (p ≤ 0.05). No significant change in SpO2 (HH‐1: 85 ± 4% vs. HH‐2: 85 ± 4%, p = 0.684) was observed between sessions. However, there were significant decreases in: HR (HH‐1: 150 ± 18 bpm vs. HH‐2: 133 ± 27 bpm, p = 0.001) of 18 bpm (11%); HR/SpO2 (HH‐1: 1.76 ± 0.22 vs. HH‐2: 1.57 ± 0.33, p = 0.012); and RPE (HH‐1: 15 ± 2 vs. HH‐2: 11 ± 4, p = 0.017). While workload significantly increased (HH‐1: 89 ± 36 W vs. HH‐2: 105 ± 36 W, p = 0.024). Some participants had a threshold/challenging altitude, but from a single bout there is evidence of improved tolerance that can last over a week. Further investigation is required to replicate and understand possible mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70195altitudehypoxiaintermittent hypoxic training
spellingShingle Kelsey E. Joyce
M. Travis Byrd
Courtney M. Wheatley‐Guy
Jesse C. Schwartz
Jordan K. Parks
Bruce D. Johnson
Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
Physiological Reports
altitude
hypoxia
intermittent hypoxic training
title Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
title_full Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
title_fullStr Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
title_full_unstemmed Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
title_short Evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
title_sort evidence for sustained physiological adaptation between consecutive exercise bouts at simulated altitude
topic altitude
hypoxia
intermittent hypoxic training
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70195
work_keys_str_mv AT kelseyejoyce evidenceforsustainedphysiologicaladaptationbetweenconsecutiveexerciseboutsatsimulatedaltitude
AT mtravisbyrd evidenceforsustainedphysiologicaladaptationbetweenconsecutiveexerciseboutsatsimulatedaltitude
AT courtneymwheatleyguy evidenceforsustainedphysiologicaladaptationbetweenconsecutiveexerciseboutsatsimulatedaltitude
AT jessecschwartz evidenceforsustainedphysiologicaladaptationbetweenconsecutiveexerciseboutsatsimulatedaltitude
AT jordankparks evidenceforsustainedphysiologicaladaptationbetweenconsecutiveexerciseboutsatsimulatedaltitude
AT brucedjohnson evidenceforsustainedphysiologicaladaptationbetweenconsecutiveexerciseboutsatsimulatedaltitude