Olivier Girard

University of Western Australia | UWA · School of Human Science

Despite the limited research on the effects of altitude (or hypoxic) training interventions on team-sport performance, players from all around the world engaged in these sports are now using altitude training more than ever before. In March 2013, an Altitude Training and Team Sports conference was held in Doha, Qatar, to establish a forum of resear...

Purpose: Compare alterations in running mechanics during maximal treadmill sprints of different distances. Methods: Eleven physically active males performed short (100-m), medium (200-m) and long (400-m) running sprints on an instrumented treadmill. Continuous measurement of running kinetics/kinematics and spring-mass characteristics were record...

Short-duration sprints ( Using laboratory and field-based protocols, performance analyses have consistently shown that fatigue during RSE typically manifests as a decline in maximal/mean sprint speed (i.e. running) or a decrease in peak power or total work (i.e. cycling) over sprint repetitions. A consistent result among these studies is that perfo...

Central motor drive to active muscles is thought to be reduced during numerous exercise tasks so as to prevent excessive peripheral fatigue development. The purpose of the present study was to use hypoxia in order to exacerbate physiological perturbations during a novel, intermittent exercise task and to explore the time-course and interplay betwee...

Purpose : To compare the energetic contribution and pacing in 2000- and 1500-m maximal rowing-ergometer performances. Methods : On separate visits (>48 h apart, random order), 18 trained junior (16.7 [0.4] y) male rowers completed 3 trials: a 7 × 4-minute graded exercise test, a 2000-m time trial (TT 2000 ), and a 1500-m TT (TT 1500 ). Respiratory...

Mckee, JR, Girard, O, Peiffer, JJ, and Scott, BR. Manipulating internal and external loads during repeated cycling sprints: A comparison of continuous and intermittent blood flow restriction. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2023-This study examined the impact of blood flow restriction (BFR) application method (continuous vs. intermittent) durin...

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is commonly associated with pathological conditions, particularly obstructive sleep apnoea. However, IH is also increasingly used to enhance health and performance and is emerging as a potent non-pharmacological intervention against numerous diseases. Whether IH is detrimental or beneficial for health is largely determined...

Purpose : To investigate the effect of cycling-based repeated-sprint training in hypoxia versus in normoxia on single overground running sprint performance and associated force–velocity (F–V) profile in world-class female rugby sevens players. Methods : Eighteen world-class female rugby sevens players were randomly assigned to repeated-sprint cycli...

While working in the heat is a common practice within the Australian mining industry, it can lead to adverse effects on cognitive function, productivity, and physical health. This study aimed to compare the thermal strain experienced by maintenance workers and service workers in the mining industry during summer. Psycho-physiological parameters, ma...

Background: Exercise with blood-flow restriction (BFR) is being increasingly used by practitioners working with athletic and clinical populations alike. Most early research combined BFR with low-load resistance training and consistently reported increased muscle size and strength without requiring the heavier loads that are traditionally used for...

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...

This perspective article aims to discuss the usefulness of tools that can assist tennis professionals effectively manage the well-being of their players. This includes identifying and monitoring meaningful metrics (i.e., training load, training intensity, heart rate variability), as well as careful planning of training and competition schedules wit...

PurposeWe investigated whether caffeine consumption can enhance peak oxygen uptake (\({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}\)) by increasing peak ventilation during an incremental cycling test, and subsequently enhance time to exhaustion (TTE) during high-intensity cycling exercise in moderate normobaric hypoxia.Methods We conducted a double-bl...

Purpose: To compare the effects of graded hypoxia during exhaustive intermittent cycling on subsequent rapid and maximal torque-production capacity. Methods: Fifteen well-trained cyclists repeated intermittent cycling bouts (15 s at 30% of anaerobic power reserve; rest = 45 s) until exhaustion at sea level (FiO2 ∼0.21/end-exercise arterial oxyge...

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a training camp with heat and/or hypoxia sessions on hematological and thermoregulatory adaptations. Methods: Fifty-six elite male rugby players completed a 2-week training camp with 5 endurance and 5 repeated-sprint sessions, rugby practice, and resistance training. Players were separated into 4 groups: CA...

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate complex cognitive function, manual dexterity and psycho-physiological parameters in tradesmen working outdoors in the mining industry during summer and winter. Methods: Twenty-six males working in a mining village in the north-west of Australia were assessed pre- and post-an 11-h shift at the start, middle, a...

Introduction: We investigated the isolated and combined (HYB) effects of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) custom foot orthoses (CFOs), compared to a control condition (CON; shoes only), on constant speed, treadmill running kinematics. Methods: Twenty (10 male and 10 female subjects) well-trained runners per...

Studies evaluating mechanical asymmetry across a range of running velocities during treadmill runs have yielded inconsistent findings, while the impact of additional hypoxic exposure has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of manipulating running velocity and hypoxic exposure on gait asymmetry during tread...

This study reports the physiological and performance profiles of a world-class tower runner during a 6-week period surrounding a successful Guinness World Record (WR) attempt, and discusses the efficacy of a tower running specific field test. The world-ranked number 2 tower runner completed four exercise tests [laboratory treadmill assessment (3 we...

Purpose To investigate the effectiveness of a novel repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) protocol, likely maximizing hypoxic stimulus (higher than commonly used) while preserving training quality (inter-sets rest in normoxia). Methods Twenty-three world-class female rugby sevens players performed four repeated-sprint training sessions (4 se...

Objectives: To quantify the acute effects of graded blood flow restriction on the interaction between changes in mechanical output, muscle oxygenation trends and perceptual responses to heart rate clamped cycling. Design: Repeated measures. Methods: Twenty-five adults (21 men) performed six, 6-min cycling bouts (24 min of recovery) at a clampe...

Purpose The use of electrical stimulation to assess voluntary activation of muscle/s is a popular method employed in numerous exercise science and health research settings. This Delphi study aimed to collate expert opinion and provide recommendations for best practice when using electrical stimulation during maximal voluntary contractions. Methods...

This study investigated the seasonal effects that working outdoors had on various parameters in mining industry workers over the course of a work-shift. Workers (n = 27) were assessed in summer (33.3 ± 4.2°C, 38 ± 18% RH; n = 13, age = 46 ± 14 y, BMI = 29.1 ± 5.7 kg/m²) and winter (23.6 ± 5.1°C, 39 ± 20% RH; n = 14, age = 44 ± 12 y, BMI = 31.2 ± 4....

Purpose: This study examined the influence of blood-flow restriction (BFR) on the distribution of pace, physiological demands, and perceptual responses during self-paced cycling. Methods: On separate days, 12 endurance cyclists/triathletes were instructed to produce the greatest average power output during 8-minute self-paced cycling trials with...

Background: Altitude training is often regarded as an indispensable tool for the success of elite endurance athletes. Historically, altitude training emerged as a key strategy to prepare for the 1968 Olympics, held at 2300 m in Mexico City, and was limited to the "Live High-Train High" method for endurance athletes aiming for performance gains thr...

Purpose: To determine whether performing resistance exercise in hypoxia acutely reduces performance and increases markers of fatigue, and whether these responses are exaggerated if exercising at high versus low work rates (i.e., exercising to failure or volume matched non-failure). Methods: Following a within-subject design, 20 men completed two tr...

Purpose: To quantify match load associated with padel and compare responses with both singles and doubles tennis. Methods: On separate days, 12 participants (7 men and 5 women) played 60-minute padel (PADEL), singles tennis (SINGLES), and doubles tennis (DOUBLES) simulated games. Participants wore a 10-Hz GPS/100-Hz triaxial accelerometer unit a...

This study investigated the impact of blood flow restriction (BFR) during treadmill walking on gait kinematics. Twenty-one participants completed one familiarisation and four experimental sessions, including two walking speeds (moderate [5.0 ± 0.3km·h-1] and fast [6.4 ± 0.4km·h-1]) and two occlusion conditions (BFR [60% of arterial occlusion pressu...

This study examined the impact of custom foot orthoses made of ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA) and expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials, both compared to a control condition (CON; shoes only), on mechanical asymmetries during repeated treadmill sprints. Eighteen well-trained male runners executed eight, 5-s sprints (rest: 25 s) on an instr...

Understanding on-court movement in tennis allows for enhanced preparation strategies to improve player readiness and performance. Here, we explore expert physical preparation coaches’ perceptions of elite training strategies for preparation and performance in tennis, with special reference to lower limb activity. Thirteen world renowned tennis stre...

Introduction Repeated sprints exercise (RSE) performed in hypoxia (RSH) induce greater performance improvement than in normoxia (Brocherie et al., 2017). It has been previously argued that RSH efficiency depend on the oxidative-glycolytic balance which is influenced by sprint duration and exercise-to-rest-ratio (E:R). Indeed, we recently showed th...

Aim. — This study investigated the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on physiological responses and performance to a Badminton-specific intermittent protocol (BSP), and the sub- sequent effect on neuromuscular and aerobic exercise performance. Methods.—Eight players (6 males and 2 females) from the Singaporean national badminton team were r...

Muscle glucose transport activity increases with an acute bout of exercise, a process that is accomplished by the translocation of glucose transporters to the plasma membrane. This process remains intact in the skeletal muscle of individuals with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Exercise training is, therefore, an important c...

Purpose: To quantify the acute effects of a spectrum of eccentric load reductions on neuromechanical adjustments during the performance of weighted jump squats (WJSs). Methods: On separate days, 16 well-trained participants performed WJS trials with various eccentric load reductions (0% [body mass only], 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% [standard WJS] of...

Purpose: To compare the acute performance and psychophysiological responses of repeated cycling sprints to exhaustion with a short exercise-to-rest ratio (1:6), between different effort durations and inspired oxygen fractions. Methods: On separate visits, 10 active participants completed 6 repeated cycling sprint exercises to exhaustion with 3 d...

Patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may be afraid to increase intra-abdominal pressure to avoid incontinence. This could lead to weak expiratory muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between respiratory muscle strength, physical function, and SUI in patients with SUI. A cross-sectional study was conducted in...

Background: World Rowing's decision to support the proposed change from a 2000-m to a 1500-m regatta course at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is anticipated to have important implications for athlete preparation and race execution during the 2024-2028 quadrennium. Purpose: This commentary aims to provide insight into the expected implicat...

This investigation assessed the psycho-physiological and performance effects of hot water immersion (HWI) implemented either before or after a repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) session conducted in the heat. Ten participants completed three RSH trials (3 × 10 × 5-s sprints), conducted at 40°C and simulated altitude of 3000 m. A 30-min monit...

Purpose: To investigate differences in athletes' knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification. Methods: Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May-July 2020...

Purpose: This study investigates the effects of normobaric hypoxia on repeated sprint exercise (RSE) with different balance between oxidative (phosphocreatine and oxidative pathway) and glycolytic contributions. Therefore, performance and psycho-physiological responses were compared during RSE to exhaustion with the same exercise-to-rest ratio (1:...

Purpose To investigate the influence of shorter, more frequent rest breaks during simulated work (outdoor mining) in the heat on physical performance and psychophysiological responses. Methods On separate days, thirteen males undertook two 225 min simulation trials in the afternoon (12.00–3.45 pm) including 180 min of treadmill walking at a consta...

Purpose Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) is a safe and non-invasive treatment approach that uses brief, repetitive periods of breathing reduced oxygen air alternated with normoxia. While AIH is known to affect spinal circuit excitability, the effects of AIH on cortical excitability remain largely unknown. We investigated the effects of AIH on corti...

Purpose: To characterize the thermal and cardiovascular strain of professional cyclists during the 2019 Tour Down Under (TDU) and determine the associations between thermal indices and power output, and physiological strain. Methods: Gastro-intestinal temperature (Tgi), heart rate (HR) and power output were recorded during the six stages (129-15...

Acute physiological, perceptual and biomechanical consequences of manipulating both exercise intensity and hypoxic exposure during treadmill running were determined. On separate days, eleven trained individuals ran for 45 s (separated by 135 s of rest) on an instrumented treadmill at seven running speeds (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 km.h⁻¹) in nor...

This study investigated whether walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) increases acute cardio-respiratory demands to the point that it can be considered an alternative for jogging. Sixteen physically active adults completed five experimental sessions (order randomised), comprising 10 min of treadmill exercise. Two sessions included unrestricted...

Background Alpine skiers typically train using repeated practice runs requiring high bursts of muscle activity but there is little field-based evidence characterizing neuromuscular function across successive runs.PurposeTo examine the impact of repeated ski runs on electromyographic activity (EMG) of the knee extensors and flexors in elite alpine s...

This study examined whether hypoxia during multi-set, high-load resistance exercise alters neuromuscular responses. Using a single-blinded (participants), randomised crossover design, eight resistance-trained males completed five sets of five repetitions of bench press at 80% of one repetition maximum in moderate normobaric hypoxia (inspiratory oxy...

Purpose: This study compared training loads and internal:external load ratios from an aerobic interval session at the highest perceptually sustainable intensity with and without blood flow restriction (BFR). Methods: On separate days, 14 endurance cyclists/triathletes completed four 4-minute self-paced aerobic cycling intervals at their highest...

The aim of this study was to investigate acute performance and physiological responses to the manipulation of exercise-to-rest ratio (E:R) during repeated-sprint hypoxic training (RSH) in hot conditions. Twelve male team-sport players completed two experimental sessions at a simulated altitude of ∼3000 m (FIO2 0.144), air temperature of 40°C and re...

We determined whether fatigue modifies the effect of custom foot orthoses manufactured from ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA) and expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials, both compared to standardized footwear (CON), on running mechanics, running economy, and perceived comfort. Eighteen well-trained, males ran on an instrumented treadmill for 6...

Objective: Identify whether the application of blood flow restriction (BFR) during walking influences fraction of expired oxygen (FeO2) and carbon dioxide (FeCO2) measures, key variables in the calculation of oxygen consumption (V̇O2) via indirect calorimetry. Design: Randomised cross-over. Methods: On separate visits, sixteen participants comple...

Background Poorer sleep health outcomes have been documented in the general population during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on sleep health outcomes in specific population groups, including the sporting community, has not been extensively investigated. This study evaluated sleep health outcomes and their relati...

This study examined cardiovascular, perceptual and neuromuscular fatigue characteristics during and after cycling intervals with and without blood flow restriction (BFR). Fourteen endurance cyclists/triathletes completed four 4-minute self-paced aerobic cycling intervals at the highest sustainable intensity, with and without intermittent BFR (60% o...

This case study aimed to report blood markers and resting respiratory rate (RR) oscillations at sea level, during a 5-wk 3900 m altitude sojourn, and after returning to sea level in a 36-year-old professional wheelchair marathoner. Outcome measures plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration, hemoglobin, reticulocytes count, erythrocytes and hematocr...

Introduction: Athletes engaged in repeated-sprint training in the heat can be at an increased risk of gastrointestinal ischemia and damage in response to a redistribution of blood to working skeletal muscles and the skin. This study investigated the effects of repeated sprinting in hot and cool conditions on markers of gastrointestinal damage. Me...

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a combined hot and hypoxic environment on muscle oxygenation and performance during repeated cycling sprints. In a single-blind, counterbalanced, cross-over research design, 10 male athletes performed three sets of 3 × 10-s maximal pedaling interspersed with 40-s recovery between sprints un...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) sessions prescribed on the basis of a maximal value (peak power output, PPO) and a submaximal value (lactate threshold, LT) derived from graded exercise tests (GXTs) in normoxia and hypoxia. Methods: A total of ten males (aged 18-37) volunteered to participate...

We determine whether mechanical asymmetries differ between dominant and non-dominant legs at fast treadmill speed. Stride temporal variables, derived from high-speed camera recordings, allowed to estimate leg and vertical stiffness through the sine-wave method in 31 uninjured males during treadmill running at 6.67 m.s⁻¹. Lower limb dominance was de...

PurposeThis study examined the effect of graded hypoxia during exhaustive intermittent cycling on subsequent exercise performance and neuromuscular fatigue characteristics in normoxia.Methods Fifteen well-trained cyclists performed an exhaustive intermittent cycling exercise (EICE 1; 15 s at 30% of anaerobic power reserve interspersed with 45 s of...

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) sessions prescribed on the basis of a maximal value (peak power output, PPO) and a submaximal value (lactate threshold, LT) derived from graded exercise tests (GXTs) in normoxia and hypoxia. Methods: A total of ten men (aged 18–37) volunteered to participate in...

Methods Blood flow restriction training with heat stress: a new time-efficient strategy to induce hypertrophy and improve sport-specific physical performance!

The present study aims to investigate the acute performance and physiological responses, with specific reference to muscle oxygenation, to ambient air temperature manipulation during repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH). Thirteen male team-sport players completed one familiarisation and three experimental sessions at a simulated altitude of ∼3...