Effect of Acute Hypoxia on Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Maximal Performance during Leg and Upper-Body Exercise in Nordic Combined Skiers

Abstract

We examined the effect of normobaric hypoxia (3200 m) on maximal oxygen uptake (V·O_2max) and maximal power output (P_max) during leg and upper-body exercise to identify functional and structural correlates of the variability in the decrement of V·O_2max (ΔV·O_2max) and of maximal power output (ΔP_max). Seven well trained male Nordic combined skiers performed incremental exercise tests to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer (leg exercise) and on a custom built doublepoling ergometer for cross-country skiing (upper-body exercise). Tests were carried out in normoxia (560 m) and normobaric hypoxia (3200 m); biopsies were taken from m. deltoideus. ΔV·O_2max was not significantly different between leg (- 9.1 ± 4.9 %) and upper-body exercise (- 7.9 ± 5.8 %). By contrast, P_max was significantly more reduced during leg exercise (- 17.3 ± 3.3 %) than during upper-body exercise (- 9.6 ± 6.4 %, p < 0.05). Correlation analysis did not reveal any significant relationship between leg and upper-body exercise neither for ΔV·O_2max nor for ΔP_max. Furthermore, no relationship was observed between individual ΔV·O_2max and ΔP_max. Analysis of structural data of m. deltoideus revealed a significant correlation between capillary density and ΔP_max (R = - 0.80, p = 0.03), as well as between volume density of mitochondria and ΔP_max (R = - 0.75, p = 0.05). In conclusion, it seems that V·O_2max and P_max are differently affected by hypoxia. The ability to tolerate hypoxia is a characteristic of the individual depending in part on the exercise mode. We present evidence that athletes with a high capillarity and a high muscular oxidative capacity are more sensitive to hypoxia.

Key words

Hypoxia - exercise testing - V·O_2max - maximal power - muscle morphology

References

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