Hormonal and Inflammatory Responses to Hypertrophy-Oriented Resistance Training at Acute Moderate Altitude

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, grant number PGC2018-097388-B-I00, by the Andalusian FEDER Operational Program, grant number A-SEJ-246-UGR18 and FPU pre-doctoral, grant number FPU18/00686 awarded to one of the authors.The authors thank the High Performance Center of Sierra Nevada, Spain and all the participants who volunteered for this investigation. The authors also thank Dymatize Europe for supplying the meal replacement supplements used in this study.This study investigated the effect of a traditional hypertrophy-oriented resistance training (R-T) session at acute terrestrial hypoxia on inflammatory, hormonal, and the expression of miR-378 responses associated with muscular gains. In a counterbalanced fashion, 13 resistance trained males completed a hypertrophic R-T session at both moderate-altitude (H; 2320 m asl) and under normoxic conditions (N; <700 m asl). Venous blood samples were taken before and throughout the 30 min post-exercise period for determination of cytokines (IL6, IL10, TNF alpha), hormones (growth hormone [GH], cortisol [C], testosterone), and miR-378. Both exercise conditions stimulated GH and C release, while miR-378, testosterone, and inflammatory responses remained near basal conditions. At H, the R-T session produced a moderate to large but nonsignificant increase in the absolute peak values of the studied cytokines. miR-378 revealed a moderate association with GH (r = 0.65; p = 0.026 and r = -0.59; p = 0.051 in N and H, respectively) and C (r = 0.61; p = 0.035 and r = 0.75; p = 0.005 in N and H, respectively). The results suggest that a R-T session at H does not differentially affect the hormonal, inflammatory, and miR-378 responses compared to N. However, the standardized mean difference detected values in the cytokines suggest an intensification of the inflammatory response in H that should be further investigated.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities PGC2018-097388-B-I00Andalusian FEDER Operational Program A-SEJ-246-UGR18FPU pre-doctoral FPU18/0068

Effect of acute exposure to moderate altitude on kinematic variables of the ippon-seoi-nage and its relationship with the countermovement jump in elite judokas.

This study aimed to assess the effect of acute exposure to moderate altitude on kinematic variables of the ippon-seoi-nage and on the mechanical outputs of the countermovement jump (CMJ). Thirteen elite male judokas from the Spanish Judo Training Centre in Valencia (age: 21.54 ± 2.15 years) participated in the study. All of them performed an incremental CMJ test and an ippon-seoi-nage technique test before (N) and after the ascent to a moderate altitude of 2320 m above the sea level (H). A linear velocity transducer was attached to the bar to assess the mechanical outputs of each loaded CMJ at different percentages of their own body weight (25, 50, 75 and 100%). A wearable sensor was used to assess the kinematic variables (times, accelerations and angular velocities) transferred to a dummy during the technique test. The kinematic variables showed great individual reliability (CV = 8.46% in N; CV = 8.37% in H), which contrasted with low reliability observed when the whole group was considered. The smallest important CV ratio (>1.15) showed that H caused changes in the reliability of the kinematic variables, with some variables becoming more reliable and others losing the reliability they had in N. H also caused small increments in peak velocity across all loads tested in the CMJ (+3.67%; P0.05). Differences between individual and within-groups CV confirm the individual adaptations that each judoka makes during this technique. Additionally, the CV ratio shows a change in the space-time pattern of the technique in H. Therefore, it would be necessary to include an adaptation period to adapt the technique after the ascent in altitude. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship and transference from the velocity gains in CMJ during altitude training

Hormonal and Inflammatory Responses to Hypertrophy-Oriented Resistance Training at Acute Moderate Altitude

This study investigated the effect of a traditional hypertrophy-oriented resistance training (RT) session at acute terrestrial hypoxia on inflammatory, hormonal, and the expression of miR-378 responses associated with muscular gains. In a counterbalanced fashion, 13 resistance trained males completed a hypertrophic RT session at both moderate-altitude (H; 2320 m asl) and under normoxic conditions (N; <700 m asl). Venous blood samples were taken before and throughout the 30 min post-exercise period for determination of cytokines (IL6, IL10, TNFα), hormones (growth hormone [GH], cortisol [C], testosterone), and miR-378. Both exercise conditions stimulated GH and C release, while miR-378, testosterone, and inflammatory responses remained near basal conditions. At H, the RT session produced a moderate to large but nonsignificant increase in the absolute peak values of the studied cytokines. miR-378 revealed a moderate association with GH (r = 0.65; p = 0.026 and r = -0.59; p = 0.051 in N and H, respectively) and C (r = 0.61; p = 0.035 and r = 0.75; p = 0.005 in N and H, respectively). The results suggest that a RT session at H does not differentially affect the hormonal, inflammatory, and miR-378 responses compared to N. However, the standardized mean difference detected values in the cytokines suggest an intensification of the inflammatory response in H that should be further investigated.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, grant number PGC2018-097388-B-I00, by the Andalusian FEDER Operational Program, grant number A-SEJ-246-UGR18 and FPU pre-doctoral, grant number FPU18/00686 awarded to one of the authors.Ye

Altitude alters the effects of a power-oriented resistance training on the force-velocity relationship of elite judokas

This study investigated the effects of a 3-week power-oriented resistance training program performed at moderate altitude on the lower-limb maximal theoretical power and force-velocity (F-V) imbalance of elite judokas. Twenty-two elite male judokas were randomly assigned to either a hypobaric hypoxia or normoxia group. Mechanical outputs from an incremental loaded countermovement jump test were assessed at sea level, before and after training, and 1 week later. Results indicated an increase in the maximal theoretical force and a reduction in the F-V imbalance both at moderate altitude and sea level. Altitude training induced additional benefits when compared to sea level for F-V imbalance (8.4%; CI: 0.3, 17.3%), maximal theoretical power (2.09 W·kg-1; CI: 0.13, 4.52 W·kg-1) and force (1.32 N·kg-1; CI: -0.12, 2.96 N·kg-1), jump height (3.24 cm; CI: 2.02, 4.80 cm) and optimal maximal theoretical force (1.61 N·kg-1; CI: 0.06, 3.60 N·kg-1) and velocity (0.08 m·s-1; CI: 0.00, 0.17 m·s-1) after the training period. The hypoxia group achieved their best results immediately after the training period, while the normoxia group achieved them one week later. These results suggest that a power-oriented resistance training program carried out at moderate altitude accelerates and improves the gains in leg push capacity while minimizing lower-limb imbalances. Therefore, it seems appropriate to compete immediately after the return to sea level and/or use altitude training as a tool to improve muscle power levels of athletes without tapering goals, especially in highly trained power athletes, since their window of adaptation for further power enhancement is smaller.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under Grant DEP2015-64350-P MINECO/FEDERFPI pre-doctoral grant under Grant BES-2016-078035 awarded to one of the author