Effects of Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia on Tennis-Specific Performance in Well-Trained Players

摘要

This study examined the physiological, physical and technical responses to repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia [RSH, inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) 14.5%] vs. normoxia (RSN, FiO2 20.9%). Within 12 days, eighteen well-trained tennis players (RSH, n=9 vs. RSN, n=9) completed five specific repeated-sprint sessions that consisted of four sets of 5 maximal shuttle-run sprints. Testing sessions included repeated-sprint ability and Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST). TEST’s maximal duration to exhaustion and time to attain the ‘onset of blood lactate accumulation’ at 4?mMol.L?1 (OBLA) improvements were significantly higher in RSH compared to RSN. Change in time to attain OBLA was concomitant with observations similar in time to the second ventilatory threshold. Significant interaction (P=0.003) was found for ball accuracy with greater increase in RSH (+13.8%, P=0.013) vs. RSN (–4.6%, P=0.15). A correlation (r=0.59, P.