Oxygenation Responses While Wearing the Elevation Training Mask During an Incremental Cycling Test

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Altitude Training Simulation

Background:

• The Elevation Training Mask 2.0 (ETM) is marketed to simulate altitude training.
• Its actual physiological effects, particularly on oxygenation, remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of wearing the ETM on muscle and brain oxygenation during incremental cycling.
• To assess the ETM's influence on heart rate, perceived exertion, arterial oxygen saturation, blood lactate, and peak power output.

Main Methods:

• Fourteen active males performed maximal incremental cycling tests under two conditions: with the ETM (simulating 9,000 ft) and a control (no mask).
• Near-infrared spectroscopy monitored muscle and cerebral oxygenation.
• Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, arterial oxygen saturation, and blood lactate were measured.

Main Results:

• Wearing the ETM significantly decreased peak power output (-6.9%) and blood lactate levels.
• Arterial oxygen saturation was lower with the ETM at maximal intensity.
• Brain oxygenation (O2Hb and tHb) in the frontoparietal cortex increased with the ETM, while muscle oxygenation remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

• The ETM impairs maximal exercise performance and reduces arterial oxygen saturation.
• The device leads to increased cerebral oxygenation without altering muscle oxygenation during intense cycling.
• Findings suggest the ETM's simulated altitude effect may impact brain oxygen delivery differently than muscle.