Reliability of Heart Rate Measures during Walking before and after Running Maximal Efforts

Abstract

Previous studies on HR recovery (HRR) measures have utilized the supine and the seated postures. However, the most common recovery mode in sport and clinical settings after running exercise is active walking. The aim of the current study was to examine the reliability of HR measures during walking (4 km · h(-1)) before and following a maximal test. Twelve endurance athletes performed an incremental running test on 2 days separated by 48 h. Absolute (coefficient of variation, CV, %) and relative [Intraclass correlation coefficient, (ICC)] reliability of time domain and non-linear measures of HR variability (HRV) from 3 min recordings, and HRR parameters over 5 min were assessed. Moderate to very high reliability was identified for most HRV indices with short-term components of time domain and non-linear HRV measures demonstrating the greatest reliability before (CV: 12-22%; ICC: 0.73-0.92) and after exercise (CV: 14-32%; ICC: 0.78-0.91). Most HRR indices and parameters of HRR kinetics demonstrated high to very high reliability with HR values at a given point and the asymptotic value of HR being the most reliable (CV: 2.5-10.6%; ICC: 0.81-0.97). These findings demonstrate these measures as reliable tools for the assessment of autonomic control of HR during walking before and after maximal efforts.

Reprodutibilidade do teste de caminhada de 6 minutos e marcadores autonômicos cardíacos em idosas ativas e sedentárias

“…This wide variation corroborates with the findings of Al Haddad et al 19 , who found large discrepancy in the reliability mea-surements of HRV indexes of the time and frequency domains after exercise in moderately active men. In contrast, Boullosa et al 18 found moderate to high reliability for HRV indexes of the time domain in endurance athletes. One possible explanation for the discrepancy in results between this and other studies 18,19 may be the exercise intensity, since lower intensities generate faster parasympathetic reactivation 30 .…”

“…In contrast, Boullosa et al 18 found moderate to high reliability for HRV indexes of the time domain in endurance athletes. One possible explanation for the discrepancy in results between this and other studies 18,19 may be the exercise intensity, since lower intensities generate faster parasympathetic reactivation 30 . In this study, 38.9% of active women reached ≥85% HR max in the 6MWT and 61.1% reached 67-84%, while among sedentary women, only 5.6% (one participant) reached ≥85% HR max and 94.4% reached 59-79% HR max .…”

“…In this study, 38.9% of active women reached ≥85% HR max in the 6MWT and 61.1% reached 67-84%, while among sedentary women, only 5.6% (one participant) reached ≥85% HR max and 94.4% reached 59-79% HR max . In the aforementioned studies, exercise was carried out at maximum or supramaximal intensities 18,19 . Therefore, despite reliability and agreement, the application of the HRV measure after exercise should consider a wide range of variation related to interindividual variability and exercise intensity.…”

“…Regarding HRV, children with cystic fibrosis have sympathetic predominance after the 6MWT compared with healthy children 17 . Regarding the reliability of HRV and HRR after physical exertion, there are few studies in literature investigating athletes 18 , young people and healthy adults [25][26][27] . However, although these studies are focused on the application of these methods in various conditions and populations, the assessment of reliability and agreement of the 6MWT, HRR, and HRV after exertion in older adults with different levels of physical activity, still need to be established.…”

Modulation of the autonomic system, pulmonary function and sleep disorders in hypertensive patients submitted to aerobic training. A study protocol

“…Among the techniques used for its evaluation, the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) through R-R intervals has emerged as a simple and noninvasive technique of autonomic impulses, representing one of the most promising quantitative markers of autonomic equilibrium 15 . The HRV analysis describes the oscillations in the interval between consecutive heart beats (R-R intervals) as well as oscillations between consecutive instant heart rates.…”