Intermittent Hypoxia Enhances Athletic Performance When the body of a human being is exposed to limited oxygen, it has to adapt or find a way to producing the required amount of energy to sustain itself with the little oxygen available. Intermittent hypoxia is an invasive-free, non-drug technique employed to advance performance of human beings and their health by practicing to adapt to low oxygen levels. The athletic performance of an individual is the ability of the particular person to stay fit by utilizing the various muscles of the body. Athletic performance of an individual can be appraised in terms of muscular strength, capacity of exercise and the cardiovascular endurance. The intermittent hypoxia boosts the efficiency of the native
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High altitudes consists of fewer oxygen levels, training in high altitudes improves mean power on an aerobic test procedure when compared to the same test of the sea level training. [1]. A study carried out depicts that; intermittent hypoxia reduces stiffness of the arteries and hence improves cardio respiratory function. Training under normal conditions does not lessen the arterial stiffness [2]. Less stiff arteries lead to sufficient pumping to all the body parts including the muscles that are much the major factors involved in determining the athletic performance of an individual. According to a study done on twenty male elite cyclists, intermittent hypoxia increases aerobic capacity and endurance performance at sea level by several adaptive changes [3]. Improved performance and aerobic capacity mean increased athletic performance and this shows that intermittent hypoxia increases athletic …show more content…
Intermittent hypoxia increases the vascular endothelial growth factor production (VEGF), which is a signaling protein that supports new blood vessels growth. It acts as a part of the mechanism that reinstates the supply of blood to the tissues and cells when they are denied of oxygenated blood to compromise blood circulation. VEGF increase up regulates the collateral circulation in the coronary bed. A study carried out on one-legged bicycling revealed that a slight rise in capillary to fiber ratio was noticed. The mean fiber area was detected to have also slightly increased [4]. Increased capillaries and fiber size mean blood is sufficiently supplied to all the body tissues and the heart, this leads to increased muscle strength that increases athletic performance. Also, intermittent hypoxia stimulates red blood cells and hemoglobin, this two vital components of human blood are correlated with performance improvements and hence enhancement of athletic performance. In addition, intermittent hypoxia contributes to immunological status improvement; decreased occurrence of inflammatory diseases and allergies. This immune development strengthens the body’s tissue and muscles and the overall result is enhanced athletic
High altitudes consists of fewer oxygen levels, training in high altitudes improves mean power on an aerobic test procedure when compared to the same test of the sea level training. [1]. A study carried out depicts that; intermittent hypoxia reduces stiffness of the arteries and hence improves cardio respiratory function. Training under normal conditions does not lessen the arterial stiffness [2]. Less stiff arteries lead to sufficient pumping to all the body parts including the muscles that are much the major factors involved in determining the athletic performance of an individual. According to a study done on twenty male elite cyclists, intermittent hypoxia increases aerobic capacity and endurance performance at sea level by several adaptive changes [3]. Improved performance and aerobic capacity mean increased athletic performance and this shows that intermittent hypoxia increases athletic …show more content…
Intermittent hypoxia increases the vascular endothelial growth factor production (VEGF), which is a signaling protein that supports new blood vessels growth. It acts as a part of the mechanism that reinstates the supply of blood to the tissues and cells when they are denied of oxygenated blood to compromise blood circulation. VEGF increase up regulates the collateral circulation in the coronary bed. A study carried out on one-legged bicycling revealed that a slight rise in capillary to fiber ratio was noticed. The mean fiber area was detected to have also slightly increased [4]. Increased capillaries and fiber size mean blood is sufficiently supplied to all the body tissues and the heart, this leads to increased muscle strength that increases athletic performance. Also, intermittent hypoxia stimulates red blood cells and hemoglobin, this two vital components of human blood are correlated with performance improvements and hence enhancement of athletic performance. In addition, intermittent hypoxia contributes to immunological status improvement; decreased occurrence of inflammatory diseases and allergies. This immune development strengthens the body’s tissue and muscles and the overall result is enhanced athletic