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

Abstract

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