Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41736946›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in physiology2026

The effect of hypoxic interventions on swimming performance in competitive athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jiangzhou Chen, Taofeng Xing, Jianan Gong, Ditao Song

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jiangzhou ChenDepartment of Health and Exercise Science, Graduate School, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Taofeng XingDepartment of Sports & Leisure, College of Humanities, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
Jianan GongDepartment of Sports Science, Graduate School of Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Ditao SongDepartment of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Guangxi University of Science and Technology for Nationalities, Laibin, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of hypoxic interventions (HI) on swimming performance and physiological outcomes in competitive swimmers. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251170303). Methods: Seven databases were searched to identify controlled trials comparing hypoxic and normoxic training under identical conditions. Eleven studies (n = 182 swimmers) were included. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by event distance and simulated altitude. Results: HI produced a small but significant improvement in swimming performance (SMD = -0.34, 95% CI [-0.62, -0.06], p = 0.02) with low heterogeneity (I Conclusion: Hypoxic interventions yield meaningful yet modest enhancements in competitive swimming performance, likely through non-hematological adaptations such as improved muscle oxygen utilization and fatigue tolerance. Tailoring HI protocols to event-specific demands and sufficient hypoxic stimulus levels may optimize outcomes. Systematic Review Registration: Registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD420251170303).

Indexed as

competitive athleteshypoxic interventionsphysiological outcomessimulated altitudeswimming performance

Identifiers

PMID41736946
PMCPMC12926167

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.