Research article - (2021)20, 45 - 51
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2021.45
Short-Term Perceptually Regulated Interval-Walk Training in Hypoxia and Normoxia in Overweight-to-Obese Adults
Liam Hobbins1, Steve Hunter1, Nadia Gaoua1, Olivier Girard2,
1Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre (SESRC), London South Bank University, London, UK
2School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia

Olivier Girard
✉ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Email: olivier.girard@uwa.edu.au
Received: 09-10-2020 -- Accepted: 23-11-2020
Published (online): 01-03-2021

ABSTRACT

We compared the effects of short-term, perceptually regulated training using interval-walking in hypoxia vs. normoxia on health outcomes in overweight-to-obese individuals. Sixteen adults (body mass index = 33 ± 3 kg·m-2) completed eight interval-walk training sessions (15 × 2 min walking at a rating of perceived exertion of 14 on the 6-20 Borg scale; rest = 2 min) either in hypoxia (FiO2 = 13.0%) or normoxia during two weeks. Treadmill velocity did not differ between conditions or over time (p > 0.05). Heart rate was higher in hypoxia (+10 ± 3%; p = 0.04) during the first session and this was consistent within condition across the training sessions (p > 0.05). Similarly, arterial oxygen saturation was lower in hypoxia than normoxia (83 ± 1% vs. 96 ± 1%, p < 0.05), and did not vary over time (p > 0.05). After training, perceived mood state (+11.8 ± 2.7%, p = 0.06) and exercise self-efficacy (+10.6 ± 4.1%, p = 0.03) improved in both groups. Body mass (p = 0.55), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.19 and 0.07, respectively) and distance covered during a 6-min walk test (p = 0.11) did not change from pre- to post-tests. Short term (2-week) perceptually regulated interval-walk training sessions with or without hypoxia had no effect on exercise-related sensations, health markers and functional performance. This mode and duration of hypoxic conditioning does not appear to modify the measured cardiometabolic risk factors or improve exercise tolerance in overweight-to-obese individuals.

Key words: Obesity, hypoxic conditioning, perceptually regulated exercise, cardio-metabolic health, interval training

Key Points
  • We compared the effects of a 2-week (8 sessions) perceptually regulated interval-walk intervention in hypoxia . normoxia in overweight-to-obese adults.
  • Despite stronger hypoxia-induced physiological stimulus – yet essentially similar walking speeds – during training, psychological and physiological measures did not differ either between conditions or across sessions.
  • Hypoxic conditioning does not appear to ameliorate exercise-related sensations, cardio-metabolic markers and functional performance, at least over a short training period.
  • Adherence to exercise for longer than a 2-week period is likely required if the beneficial effects of exercise in hypoxia . normoxia are to be realized.








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