Background: The effects of hypoxia conditioning, which involves recurrent exposure to hypoxia combined with exercise training, on improving body composition in the ageing population have not been extensively investigated. Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to determine if hypoxia conditioning, compared to similar training near sea level, maximizes body composition benefits in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases (up to 27^th November 2022) was performed, including the reference lists of relevant papers. Three independent reviewers extracted study characteristics and health outcome measures. Search results were limited to original studies of the effects of hypoxia conditioning on body composition in middle-aged and older adults. Results: Twelve studies with a total of 335 participants were included. Hypoxia conditioning induced greater reductions in body mass index (MD = -0.92, 95%CI: -1.28 to -0.55, I² = 0%, p < 0.00001) and body fat (SMD = -0.38, 95%CI: -0.68 to -0.07, I² = 49%, p = 0.01) in middle-aged and older adults compared with normoxic conditioning. Hypoxia conditioning improved lean mass with this effect not being larger than equivalent normoxic interventions in either middle-aged or older adults (SMD = 0.07, 95%CI -0.12 to 0.25, I² = 0%, p = 0.48). Subgroup analysis showed that exercise in moderate hypoxia (FiO₂ > 15%) had larger effects than more severe hypoxia (FiO₂ ≤ 15%) for improving body mass index in middle-aged and older adults. Hypoxia exposure of at least 60 min per session resulted in larger benefits for both body mass index and body fat. Conclusion: Hypoxia conditioning, compared to equivalent training in normoxia, induced greater body fat and body mass index improvements in middle-aged and older adults. Adding hypoxia exposure to exercise interventions is a viable therapeutic solution to effectively manage body composition in ageing population.

We evaluated the effects of post-activation performance enhancement through flywheel exercise with varying inertial loads compared to traditional resistance exercise on countermovement jump performance and muscle recruitment. In a randomized crossover design, 13 trained men completed four main...

The effects of low‐load resistance exercise combined with external limb compression (ELC) to augment post‐activation performance enhancement during countermovement jumps have yet to be examined. We assessed the separate and combined effects of ELC and sets of low‐load (back squats) resistance exercise (both compared with controls) during conditioning routines, and determine their subsequent neuromechanical consequences during countermovement jumps. On separate days, twenty strength‐trained men completed a familiarization session followed by four experimental trials in a randomized design that included one of the following conditioning routines: passive rest (Control [CON], no occlusion/standing), exercise (sets of low‐intensity resistance exercise [RE] with 30% 1RM, no occlusion/exercise), ELC ([ELC] at 80% of the individual arterial occlusion pressure, occlusion/standing), and combined ELC and exercise ([ELC + RE], occlusion/exercise). Countermovement jump performance (jump height, relative peak power output, vertical impulse, and rate of force development) was assessed at baseline, immediately after, and at the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth minute following each conditioning routine. Compared to baseline, jump height, relative peak power output and vertical impulse values were lower at 0 min for [RE] (−3.5%–8.2%; p ≤ 0.014) and higher at +3 min for [ELC] (+2.0%–3.8%; p ≤ 0.013). Regarding [ELC + RE], values for these three variables were lower at 0 min (−4.8%–8.0%; p < 0.001) but higher at +12 min (+2.9%–5.5%; p < 0.001) versus baseline. In strength‐trained men, using ELC either alone (while standing) or combined with low‐load resistance exercise sets (during back squats) can be a useful way to improve CMJ mechanics. However, the duration and magnitude of post‐activation potentiation performance benefits varied depending on the type of ELC protocol used.