Published: February 2013

It was hypothesised that repeated sprint training in hypoxia could enhance repeated sprint ability in normoxia.

Pre-test muscle samples were conducted, as well as a repeated sprint test to exhaustion.  Subjects (n= 40) completed eight cycling sprint sessions in hypoxia or normoxia (sea level). From pre/post test analysis, the average power output of all sprints increased (6% in normoxia; 7% in hypoxia). The number of sprints until exhaustion increased by six following hypoxic training, but only increased by four following normoxic training.

This research suggests that doing repeated sprint training in hypoxic conditions improves your overall power output as well as your sprint to exhaustion  threshold. This could be due to improved glucose and oxygen utilisation.  These adaptations occur through normoxic training but at a decreased rate.