Hypoxic training for Masters?

This article speaks to hypoxic training for swimming. It specifically mentions Counsilman's view on it. It also acknowledges later that there is no proof it improves the muscles ability to handle oxygen. There has been far more scientific research into training and physiological issues specific to swimming than many realize. One of the cool parts of Maglischo's book is that he examined the research - so much of it done at the US Olympic training center - to make his recommendations. On page 445 he says: "The original purpose of hypoxic training was to simulate training at altitude. Proponents thought that reducing the breathing rates of athletes would also curtail their oxygen supply and create the same kind of hypoxia that takes place at altitude. Research has shown that this assumption was incorrect. Several studies have shown that hypoxic training does not reduce the oxygen supply to the tissues (he lists several from 1978 to 1989)." "Despite results like these, hypoxic swimming continues to be a popular form of training.....perhaps because it produces other currently unidentified training effects. On the other hand, it may simply be that the difficulty of swimming with reduced breathing appeals to coaches and athletes because of the effort and discipline it requires. Some coaches reason that training that causes so much distress must be doing something worthwhile for swimmers." "Beneficial effects are not evident, however, at least as far as aerobic capacity is concerned." "One could argue that restricting breathing can actually reduce the overall aerobic training effect." "A compromised oxygen supply will cause more production of lactic acid, which in turn will cause greater acidosis at slower speeds." "Some coaches have suggested that hypoxic training can increase the buffering capacities of muscles and blood vessels because of the acidosis that occurs when oxygen supply is reduced. Hypoxic training is unlikely to be any more effective than free swimming for this purpose. In fact, it may be less effective for the reasons cited earlier, name.y, that athletes can swim faster and thus with more racelike stroke rates and stroke lengths when they breathe regularly."

This article speaks to hypoxic training for swimming. It specifically mentions Counsilman's view on it. It also acknowledges later that there is no proof it improves the muscles ability to handle oxygen. There has been far more scientific research into training and physiological issues specific to swimming than many realize. One of the cool parts of Maglischo's book is that he examined the research - so much of it done at the US Olympic training center - to make his recommendations. On page 445 he says: "The original purpose of hypoxic training was to simulate training at altitude. Proponents thought that reducing the breathing rates of athletes would also curtail their oxygen supply and create the same kind of hypoxia that takes place at altitude. Research has shown that this assumption was incorrect. Several studies have shown that hypoxic training does not reduce the oxygen supply to the tissues (he lists several from 1978 to 1989)." "Despite results like these, hypoxic swimming continues to be a popular form of training.....perhaps because it produces other currently unidentified training effects. On the other hand, it may simply be that the difficulty of swimming with reduced breathing appeals to coaches and athletes because of the effort and discipline it requires. Some coaches reason that training that causes so much distress must be doing something worthwhile for swimmers." "Beneficial effects are not evident, however, at least as far as aerobic capacity is concerned." "One could argue that restricting breathing can actually reduce the overall aerobic training effect." "A compromised oxygen supply will cause more production of lactic acid, which in turn will cause greater acidosis at slower speeds." "Some coaches have suggested that hypoxic training can increase the buffering capacities of muscles and blood vessels because of the acidosis that occurs when oxygen supply is reduced. Hypoxic training is unlikely to be any more effective than free swimming for this purpose. In fact, it may be less effective for the reasons cited earlier, name.y, that athletes can swim faster and thus with more racelike stroke rates and stroke lengths when they breathe regularly."