World-first applied analysis of muscle oxygen use and recovery in professional boxers

Boxing research shows need to focus on endurance training

Professional boxers should be switching training tactics to focus more heavily on improving muscle endurance, new research from Abertay University in Dundee, UK has found. 

The world-first study, published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, focused on the reoxygenation and recovery capacity of elite male boxers’ quadricep (upper leg) muscles, which are used for mobility in the ring but also generation of the force behind a punch. 

Using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitors attached to the upper legs of 10 participants, the research team discovered, for the first time, that the elite boxers’ muscle endurance showed a greater decline during sparring when compared with other training techniques such as pad and bag striking work.

NIRS is a non-invasive optical imaging technique which uses infrared light to detect oxygen consumption in muscles.

The findings suggest that boxers can benefit from techniques that are specifically designed to boost muscle endurance.

To gain the results, three distinct stages were analysed, measuring: 

•             The muscle working but showing no change in oxygen use  

•             The muscle using oxygen faster than it can delivered  

•             The muscle use and oxygen delivery being in balance (equilibrium) 

The study was conducted by Abertay research student and elite boxing coach Andrew Usher, supervised by Dr John Babraj of the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Usher said: "This research represents an important step in our evidence-based approach to professional boxing training and opens the door to both performance benefits and safety enhancements as we begin to better understand the physiological demands being placed on a boxer’s body. More research is needed to explore how different muscles, and indeed different athletes, will respond to structured training, however this study establishes that a poor muscular recovery rate exists in professional boxers when compared with other sports.” 

Recently shared at the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Conference, the work has gained international attention amongst elite practitioners across a range of sports and follows a series of other Abertay University research projects with leading UK boxers, including former world champion Hannah Rankin.

Focusing on promoting a science and data-led approach to boxing, the work of the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences seeks to advance the sport and enhance understanding and safety of both training techniques and performance methods.

Dr Babraj said that high intensity internal training could be a useful tool to better equip boxers for success. He added:

“NIRS monitors are used to measure muscle oxygenation and this technology has been key to allowing analysis in an applied training environment. The results of the study demonstrate a clear need to focus on endurance rather than strength in training, in order to deliver better oxygen use during competition.” 

The 10 male boxers involved in the study ranged from super lightweight to super welterweight and each athlete held a current professional licence with the British Boxing Board of Control.  The study was designed to match the athlete’s training regimes where each routinely used 10 x 3-minute rounds in pad and bag training sessions and 6 × 3-minute rounds in sparring.