Fentaw Sisay, Tadesse Tefera, Birhanu Zerihun
Sport Academy, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Department of Sport Science, Debark University, Debark, Ethiopia.
Physiol Rep. 2025 May;13(9):e70349. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70349.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) in hypoxia has demonstrated superior increases in aerobic capacity (VO max) adaptations, but this has not been explored in distance runners. This study examined the methodological and VO max adaptations of HIIT under different altitude conditions in distance runners. We searched the PubMed, ProQuest, Europe PMC, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane databases until August 2024. Among the 1183 reviewed studies, six studies were included. The PEDro score determined the methodological quality, and a meta-analysis was performed using Jamovi software. The results revealed that VO max improved more in hypoxic (4.4%-13%) HIIT than in normoxic (1%-8.3%) HIIT. The meta-analysis results revealed that the effect of HIIT under hypoxia on the VO max overall standardized mean difference (SMD) was 0.68, with a 95% confidence interval [0.3, 1.06], p < 0.001. Conversely, the pooled SMD was not related to the type of hypoxia (p = 0.4), training status (p = 0.36), intervention week (p = 0.82), and sex (p = 0.32). In conclusion, HIIT under hypoxia achieves a greater VO max improvement than normoxia. Endurance athletes and coaches could plan to benefit from such training. However, studies on females using different HIIT protocols and participants at different natural altitudes are limited. This review is registered under the PROSPERO CRD42024578473.
低氧环境下的高强度间歇训练（HIIT）已被证明在有氧能力（最大摄氧量，VO₂max）适应方面有更显著的提升，但这在长跑运动员中尚未得到研究。本研究探讨了长跑运动员在不同海拔条件下进行HIIT的方法学及VO₂max适应情况。我们检索了截至2024年8月的PubMed、ProQuest、欧洲生物医学中心（Europe PMC）、ScienceDirect和Cochrane数据库。在1183项综述研究中，纳入了6项研究。采用PEDro评分确定方法学质量，并使用Jamovi软件进行荟萃分析。结果显示，低氧（4.4%-13%）HIIT比常氧（1%-8.3%）HIIT能使VO₂max得到更大程度的提高。荟萃分析结果显示，低氧环境下HIIT对VO₂max总体标准化均数差（SMD）的效应值为0.68，95%置信区间为[0.3, 1.06]，p < 0.001。相反，合并后的SMD与低氧类型（p = 0.4）、训练状态（p = 0.36）、干预周数（p = 0.82）和性别（p = 0.32）均无关。总之，低氧环境下的HIIT比常氧环境能使VO₂max得到更大程度的改善。耐力运动员和教练可计划从这种训练中获益。然而，关于使用不同HIIT方案的女性以及不同自然海拔的参与者的研究有限。本综述已在国际前瞻性系统评价注册库（PROSPERO）注册，注册号为CRD42024578473。
