Open AccessNeuromuscular Adaptations after an Altitude Training Camp in Elite Judo Athletes
Author(s) -
Katja Tomažin,
Filipa Almeida,
Igor Štirn,
Paulino Padial,
Juan Bonitch-Góngora,
Antonio J. Morales-Artacho,
Vojko Strojnik,
Belén Feriche
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of environmental research and public health/international journal of environmental research and public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.747
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1661-7827
pISSN - 1660-4601
DOI - 10.3390/ijerph18136777
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , altitude training , medicine , athletes , physical therapy , altitude (triangle) , electromyography , physical medicine and rehabilitation , mathematics , geometry
The aim of this study was to investigate neuromuscular adaptations in elite judo athletes after three weeks of power-oriented strength training at terrestrial altitude (2320 m). Nineteen men were assigned to altitude training (AL) (22.1 ± 2.3 years) and sea level training (SL) (22.6 ± 4.1 years). Neuromuscular assessment consisted of: (1) maximal isometric knee extensor (KE) torque, (2) KE rate of torque development (RTD), (3) quadriceps activity and voluntary activation, (4) soleus H-reflex, (5) quadriceps single (T TW ) and double twitch torque (T DB100 ) and contraction time (CT TW ). There were no significant differences between groups at baseline for any of the observed parameters. Significant differences were found between groups in terms of change in RTD ( p = 0.04). Cohen's d showed a positive significant effect (0.43) in the SL group and a negative significant effect (-0.58) in the AL group. The difference between groups in changes in CT TW as a function of altitude was on the edge of significance ( p = 0.077). CT TW increased by 8.1 ± 9.0% in the AL group ( p = 0.036) and remained statistically unchanged in the SL group. Only the AL group showed a relationship between changes in T TW and T DB100 and changes in RTD at posttest ( p = 0.022 and p = 0.016, respectively). Altitude induced differences in muscular adaptations likely due to greater peripheral fatigue.