Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under CC BY-NC 4.0 license

Authors

1 MSc of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Biological Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Increased secretion of growth and metabolic factors by hypoxic exercise has been shown, while muscle function has not been considered as an effective factor in exercise performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of resistance training in hypoxic conditions on hypertrophy and function of biceps muscle in healthy men. 16 healthy young men were randomly assigned to two groups: hypoxic resistance training (PaO2=13%, n=8) and normoxic resistance training (PaO2=20%, n=8). The training program for both groups lasted 4 weeks including 3 sessions (60% of 1RM until exhaustion, 3 sets and 1 minute of rest) of standing curls biceps with 48 hours of recovery after the training per week. Strength was assessed by 1RM, hypertrophy by Buresh formula and muscle functions by the isokinetic system before and after 4 weeks of training. A comparison of the two groups showed statistically significant differences in strength and the fatigue index (P≤0.05). Other factors including biceps fat percentage, hypertrophy, elbow peak torque in concentric and eccentric contractions, total work of biceps in concentric and eccentric contractions and the ratio of agonist/antagonist muscle activity did not show significant differences (P≥0.05). It seems that 4 weeks of hypoxia resistance training is associated with a significant improvement in strength and fatigue index. However, hypertrophy and muscle function indices showed similar changes considering less training volume in hypoxia conditions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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