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Published on: March 15, 2019
Mechanical Alterations to Repeated Treadmill Sprints in Normobaric Hypoxia
Franck Brocherie1, Grégoire P Millet, Jean-Benoit Morin
11ISSUL, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SWITZERLAND; 2Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SWITZERLAND; 3Laboratory of Human Motricity, Education Sport and Health, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, FRANCE; 4Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Doha, QATAR.
Severe hypoxia significantly impairs running performance and mechanics during repeated sprints more than moderate hypoxia or sea level conditions. Fatigue effects on ground force application and stiffness are amplified at higher altitudes.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Altitude Training
- Sports Biomechanics
Background:
- Repeated sprint performance is known to decrease in hypoxic conditions.
- The specific mechanical factors contributing to these decrements under varying hypoxia levels remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different levels of normobaric hypoxia on running mechanical performance during repeated treadmill sprints.
Main Methods:
- Thirteen team sport athletes completed eight 5-second sprints with 25-second recovery periods.
- Sprints were performed under normoxia (sea level), moderate hypoxia (~1800m), and severe hypoxia (~3600m) on an instrumented treadmill.
Main Results:
- Net horizontal power output decreased significantly in severe hypoxia compared to sea level and moderate hypoxia.
- Fatigue led to reduced ground reaction forces, increased contact time, decreased stride frequency, and diminished vertical stiffness, with these changes being more pronounced in severe hypoxia.
Conclusions:
- Severe normobaric hypoxia exacerbates performance decrements in repeated sprint ability.
- Hypoxia amplifies fatigue-related impairments in force application and maintenance of biomechanical characteristics like vertical stiffness and stride frequency.
