Altitude-induced effects on neuromuscular, metabolic and perceptual responses before, during and after a high-intensity resistance training session.

Purpose: We tested if an acute ascending to 2320 m above sea level (asl) affects corticospinal excitability (CSE) and intracortical inhibition (SICI) measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at rest, before, during and after a traditional hypertrophy-oriented resistance training (R) session. We also explored whether blood lactate concentration (BLa), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), perceived muscular pain and total training volume differed when the R session was performed at hypoxia (H) or normoxia (N).

Methods: Twelve resistance-trained men performed eight sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of one repetition maximum of a bar biceps curl at N (SpO = 98.