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Case Reports
. 2020 Jan 30;17(3):861.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030861.

Effects of 2-Week Exercise Training in Hypobaric Hypoxic Conditions on Exercise Performance and Immune Function in Korean National Cycling Athletes with Disabilities: A Case Report

Hun-Young Park  1   2 , Won-Sang Jung  1 , Jisu Kim  1   2 , Hyejung Hwang  1 , Sung-Woo Kim  1 , Younghwan An  3   4 , Haeman Lee  3 , Seonju Jeon  3 , Kiwon Lim  1   2   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Effects of 2-Week Exercise Training in Hypobaric Hypoxic Conditions on Exercise Performance and Immune Function in Korean National Cycling Athletes with Disabilities: A Case Report

Hun-Young Park et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the effects of a 2-week exercise training program in hypobaric hypoxic conditions on exercise performance and immune function in Korean national cycling athletes with disabilities. Six Korean national cycling athletes with disabilities participated in exercise training consisting of continuous aerobic exercise and anaerobic interval exercise in hypobaric hypoxic conditions. The exercise training frequency was 60 min (5 days per week for 2 weeks). Before and after the exercise training, exercise performance and immune function were measured in all athletes. Regarding the exercise performance parameters, the 3-km time trial significantly decreased and blood lactate levels after the 3-km time trial test significantly increased by exercise training in hypobaric hypoxic conditions. Regarding the oxygen-transporting capacity, significant differences were not observed. Regarding immune function, the number of leukocytes and natural killer cells significantly decreased and that of eosinophils, B cells, and T cells significantly increased. These results indicated that our 2-week hypoxic training showed the potential to improve exercise performance in Korean national disabled athletes. However, the effects of our hypoxic training method on immune function remained unclear.

Keywords: athletes with disability; exercise performance; hypobaric hypoxic training; immune function.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Exercise performance parameters before and after the 2-week exercise training in hypobaric hypoxia: (A) change in VO2max, (B) change in 3-km TT, (C) change in VEmax, (D) change in HRmax, (E) change in blood lactate before GXT, (F) change in blood lactate after GXT, (G) change in blood lactate level before 3-km TT., and (H) change in blood lactate level after 3-km TT. VO2max = maximal oxygen uptake, VEmax = maximal minute ventilation, HRmax = maximal heart rate, GXT = graded exercise test, TT = time trial, Δ% = delta percentage, SP = statistical power. * Significant difference between pre- and post-tests, p < 0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Oxygen-transporting capacity in the blood parameters before and after the 2-week exercise training in hypobaric hypoxia: (A) change in RBC, (B) change in Hb, (C) change in Hct, and (D) change in EPO. RBC = red blood cell, Hb = hemoglobin, Hct = hematocrit, EPO = erythropoietin, Δ% = delta percentage, SP = statistical power. * Significant difference between pre- and post-tests, p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Immune function parameters before and after the 2-week exercise training in hypobaric hypoxia: (A) change in WBC, (B) change in eosinophil, (C) change in neutrophil, (D) change in basophil, (E) change in NK cell, (F) change in B cell, and (G) change in T cell. WBC = white blood cell, NK cell = natural killer cell. Δ% = delta percentage, SP = statistical power. * Significant difference between pre- and post-tests, p < 0.05.
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