Mixed
Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) provides no significant additional benefit for sea-level performance improvement compared to identical training performed in normoxia.
Do not rely on Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) to boost your sea-level performance. If you are training at altitude but living at sea level, you are likely getting less benefit than if you just trained at sea level because you cannot maintain the same power or speed. Focus on high-intensity training in normoxia instead.
A thorough analysis of studies including IHT, however, leads to strikingly poor benefits for sea-level performance improvement, compared to the same training method performed in normoxia.
Why this rating
Based on a review of 23 controlled studies, most showing no difference, though the paper notes some methodological limitations in existing literature.
Source
Advancing hypoxic training in team sports: from intermittent hypoxic training to repeated sprint training in hypoxia
Raphaël Faiss et al. · British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2013
DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092741
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