AbstractStrength training in hypoxia has been shown to enhance hypertrophy and function
of skeletal muscle, however, the effects of plyometric training in hypoxia is
relatively unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of
plyometric training in hypoxia compared to normoxia on body composition, sprint
and jump parameters. Twenty-three male physical education students
(20.4±2.0 years, mean±SD) participated in the study and were
divided into a plyometric training in hypoxia (PTH, n=8), plyometric
training in normoxia (PTN, n=7) or control group (C, n=8). The
PTH group trained in normobaric hypoxia (approximately 3536 m) 3
days/week for 8 weeks, while the PTN trained in normoxia. PTH induced
significant improvements from baseline to post-testing in countermovement-jump
(37.8±6.7 cm, 43.4±5.0 cm, p<0.05),
squat-jump (35.4±6.2 cm, 41.1±5.7 cm,
p<0.05), drop-jump height (32.8±6 cm,
38.1±6 cm, p<0.05) and 20-m sprint performance
(3257.1±109.5 ms, 3145.8±83.6 ms, p<0.05); whereas PTN
produced significant improvement only in countermovement-jump
(37.3±4.8 cm, 40.5±4.5 cm, p<0.05) and
20-m sprint performance (3209.3±76.1 ms, 3126.6±100.4 ms,
p<0.05). Plyometric training under hypoxic conditions induces greater
improvement in some jump measures (drop-jump and squat-jump) compared to similar
training in normoxia.