The effect of weightlifting training with added respiratory dead space on buffering capacity and blood lactate of young weightlifters

Background and Purpose: Improvement of performance based on buffering capacity has been of great interest, where beneficial effects have been reported by using added respiratory dead space (ADRS) in endurance training. However, the use of ADRS in resistance training has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of added respiratory dead space in weightlifting training on carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and blood lactate.
Materials and Methods: Two groups of young healthy males (age 28.72 ± 14.14 and body mass index 24.27 ± 1.34) with at least 6 months of experience in weightlifting training, were voluntarily selected and randomly divided into two groups: weightlifting + added respiratory dead space (n = 9) and Weightlifting training (n = 9). Both groups performed selected weightlifting training three sessions a week in the first to fourth weeks, four sessions a week in the fifth to sixth weeks, and five sessions a week in the seventh to tenth weeks with an intensity of 80% one-repetition maximum and RPE of 14 to 16. However, the WARDS group was breathing through a device that increased respiratory dead space volume to an amount of 1200 ml during the training. The anthropometric measurements and blood samples were taken to determine carbon dioxide, HCO3- and lactate levels. To determine the differences between groups, a statistical analysis of general linear models with repeated measures and a meaningful Bonferroni test were used to determine the difference between the groups. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.
Results: No significant difference was observed between the two groups with and without masks in body mass index (P=0/510), body weight (P=0/714), and body fat percentage (P=0/942). The adaptations created in the values of co (P=0.045) and lactate (P≥0.001) was significant in the group with mask. No significant difference was observed between two groups for HCO3- (P = 0.947). As a result of comparing the responses of training variables, there was a significant increase in CO2 only after the tenth session (P=0.019), lactate after the first and tenth sessions (P=0.000) and HCO3- after the first session (P=0.029) and the tenth session (P=0.045) in the group with mask.
Conclusion: Using an added respiratory dead space with a volume of 1200 ml during weightlifting training is a simple method to improve buffering capacity and increase lactate. Weightlifting training sessions are not considered more difficult with this strategy and can provide an alternative to well-known training protocols, and athletes can benefit from the resulting adaptations in various directions such as hypertrophy, and performance improvement.