Hypoxico - Intermittent Hypoxic therapy for rehabilitation and performance

FITNESS CENTER USES HYPOXICO PROTOCOL FOR ENDURANCE & RECOVERY

Hypoxico’s intermittent hypoxic training package and protocol is very popular with health and wellness professionals looking for alternative treatments. The goal is to use short intermittent inhalations of hypoxic air interspersed with inhalations of ambient air. This non-invasive, drug-free technique aims to improve human performance and well being by way of adaptation to reduced oxygen.

Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT/IHE)

Radix Fitness in Redlands, California uses intermittent hypoxic training in a very simple yet profoundly useful training intervention for athletes. An athlete can use it for rehabilitating from an injury, or simply recovering from a hard training session. In the video provided by Radix Fitness the protocol simply calls for the user to lie down or sit while breathing hypoxic air created by one of our altitude simulating generators. We call this Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure or IHE. For the sake of clarity, this is different from Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT), which is done in an active state, usually while exercising.

The gentleman in the video is a Marine named Justin who lost his legs and part of his hand after an IED attack while deployed in Afghanistan. Justin is a fighter and athlete currently training for the Wounded Warrior Games. He is also preparing for the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney.

Justin lost much of his muscle mass due to his injuries, which makes it incredibly difficult for him to build his endurance while not compromising recovery. The trainers at Radix employ the IHE protocol to develop his cardiovascular system, stimulate and repair damaged nerves while reducing the overall physical training load inherent in aerobic exercise.

The IHE protocol is very simple and usually requires 30-60 minutes of total training time. The user will simply breathe 9% oxygen air from our altitude-simulating generator in 5-6min intervals. This drops the blood oxygen saturation levels and stimulates the hypoxic response in the body. Once the interval is over, the user will simply take the mask off and breathe ambient air for 4-5 minutes, allowing blood oxygen saturation levels to return to normal.

These cycles of extreme hypoxia and reoxygenation recreate a natural physiological process that occurs in all human embryonic development to build an anti-oxidative defense. The goal is to protect the body from free radicals. In newborn babies, this defense helps fight the initial oxidative stress of hyperoxia at birth. With adults, it can similarly help fight unavoidable oxidative stress associated with everyday life.

In addition to accelerating rehab and recovery, there is also evidence IHE can slow the process of aging, prevent chronic illnesses and promote overall health, wellness and rejuvenation.

Radix is using one of our commercial grade systems known as the HYP 123 for use in their training facility. IHE and IHT can be performed with all of our units, including our home generators. To learn more about the home systems you can view the Exercise Package, which you can also use for active training on a stationary piece of cardio equipment. While strongly geared towards wellness and recovery, IHE is a helpful piece of any altitude-training program.

If you have questions about IHE or anything else altitude related, feel free to reach out anytime!

Created By: Hypoxico Staff

Dylan Bowman joined Hypoxico in 2013 as the Director of Endurance. When he’s not helping clients find the right altitude training solution he contributes as a writer in the fields of endurance sports, health, altitude training and more. Dylan is an elite endurance athlete who actively competes. Hypoxico’s altitude training systems help Dylan train for high altitude races around the world from his home in San Francisco, California.