The results of this study demonstrated that HIIT while wearing the Elevation Training Mask significantly improved selected variables for males and females. The males tended to have more variables significantly improve than females. These findings are similar to previous study using the same training protocols, but wearing the SCBA; thus, implying that the Elevation Training Mask is equally effective as the SCBA during HITT. It is suggested that further study of the female participants are required to determine the reasons why they do not respond to the training as their male counterparts.
That the training mask, while making it harder to breathe, didn't simulate low-oxygen levels. To wit, the musculature involved in breathing did, indeed, respond to the mask, but the ability to function at lower levels of oxygen (increase in red blood cells, among other things) was not affected.
"It doesn't take a medical degree to know that if you're at sea level, breathing sea level air (20.9% oxygen) through a restrictive device, the air coming through it and available to you is still going to be of 20.9% oxygen content. So how do products like this simulate altitude training as they claim? Quite simply, they don't."
"It doesn't take a medical degree to know that if you're at sea level, breathing sea level air (20.9% oxygen) through a restrictive device, the air coming through it and available to you is still going to be of 20.9% oxygen content. So how do products like this simulate altitude training as they claim? Quite simply, they don't."
But you would be getting less total air so therefore less total oxygen. No? It has a similar effect to breathing through a straw- to my understanding at least.
<quote> Each subject underwent the following; informed consent; screening via rPAR-Q and Physical Activity Index; pulmonary function test; orientation; three VO2max tests (Rudolph valve, SCBA and ETM condition); a 5-week intensive aerobic training program using the Training Mask; post training pulmonary function test and VO2max tests. Screening Each participant provided written informed consent to participate in the project, which was approved by the NAIT Research Ethics Board (Appendix A). Upon consent, each subject completed a Physical Activity Index (PAI, Appendix B) and Revised Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (rPAR-Q, Appendix C) that was designed to identify those individuals for whom vigorous exercise may be inappropriate. Depending on the answers to these questionnaires participants may have become ineligible for entry into the study. </quote>
So, no control group? How do you distinguish the effect of HIIT training, by itself without the mask?
All that can be claimed is that HIIT + mask is effective; but it may be entirely possible (and plausible) that the same HIIT without the mask would have provided greater VO2max results.
Note that the experimental design, otherwise, is intended to test training for breathing in a restrictivive device. From the background <quote> The negative impact the SCBA has on VO2max; researchers have studied various methods to alleviate this problem. <\quote>
How applicable this would be to athletic performance is questionable.
"It doesn't take a medical degree to know that if you're at sea level, breathing sea level air (20.9% oxygen) through a restrictive device, the air coming through it and available to you is still going to be of 20.9% oxygen content. So how do products like this simulate altitude training as they claim? Quite simply, they don't."
But you would be getting less total air so therefore less total oxygen. No? It has a similar effect to breathing through a straw- to my understanding at least.
It also doesn't take a medical degree to realize that if you breathe less air you are going to get less O2 regardless of % concentration.
If you decrease air intake by 1/2 then you would simulate an environment with 50% less O2 concentration (higher tidal volume with less O2 conc. vs lower tidal volume with higher O2 con.)
Not saying it works or not, just seems theoretically like it could.
