Haematological changes after training at hyoxia

Abstract

5 male athletes, National team rowers, were our test-persons. Mean age 23 years old.

Experiment divided in two periods, first 3 weeks normoxic training, then 3 weeks hypoxic training. (3 hours x 3 days/week). The detailed trainingprogramme for these six weeks was decided by the athletes before our project started, and we had therefore no influence on this. Basically, the training preformed was the same during the hypoxy,- and the normoxy period.

3 Blood Volume tests: Test 1 before the normoxy trainingperiod, test 2 after the normoxy trainingperiod, test 3 after the hypoxy trainingperiod. Hb and Hct to supplement the bloodvolum tests.

Our conclusions were, that there was an increase in total blood volume, total RBC volum and plasma volum after 6 weeks of training, including 3 weeks of hypoxy training. We can not say if this was because of hypoxia or the training itself, because of blood volum-test failure after the normoxy period. Decrease in Hct after 3 weeks normoxy training, increase after 3 weeks hypoxy training. Decrease in Hb during both hypoxy,- and normoxy trainingperiod.