The training of strength-resistance in hypoxia: Effect on muscle hypertrophy

Abstract

Altitude and simulated-hypoxia training produces different physiological and/or biochemical adaptations in the skeletal muscle. These are: oxidative capacity, mitochondrial activity modifications, aerobic metabolism changes and myoglobin content. The purpose of this review was to analyze the adaptations of skeletal muscle in response to the combination of strength-resistance exercise and hypoxia. In general terms, the structural adaptations of the muscle are similar in hypoxia and normoxia except that hypoxia training produces an increase of the volume and cross-sectional area of the muscle fiber. In conclusion, the synergic effect of the combination of strength resistance training with normobaric hypoxia produces better and greater adaptations and beneficial physiological changes of the muscle tissue, which shows favorable phenotypic changes in skeletal muscle hypertrophy.