Acute and training effects of resistance exercise on heart rate variability

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used as a non-invasive method to evaluate heart rate (HR) regulation by the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. In this review, we discuss the effect of resistance exercise both acutely and after training on HRV in healthy individuals and in those with diseases characterized by autonomic dysfunction, such as hypertension and fibromyalgia. HR recovery after exercise is influenced by parasympathetic reactivation and sympathetic recovery to resting levels. Therefore, examination of HRV in response to acute exercise yields valuable insight into autonomic cardiovascular modulation and possible underlying risk for disease. Acute resistance exercise has shown to decrease cardiac parasympathetic modulation more than aerobic exercise in young healthy adults suggesting an increased risk for cardiovascular dysfunction after resistance exercise. Resistance exercise training appears to have no effect on resting HRV in healthy young adults, while it may improve parasympathetic modulation in middle-aged adults with autonomic dysfunction. Acute resistance exercise appears to decrease parasympathetic activity regardless of age. This review examines the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercise on HRV in young and older adults.

Can natural ways to stimulate the vagus nerve improve seizure control?

“…This is intuitively what one might expect and moreover, has been discussed a review that assessed the effect of exercise on HRV [80]. People with epilepsy and particularly those with poorly controlled seizures have been shown to have decreased parasympathetic tone, hence, ways to stimulate the VN are likely to produce greater increases in parasympathetic tone than in normal subjects.…”

Effects of Resistance Training on Autonomic Nervous Function in Older Individuals

“…Timedomain measurements of HRV include the standard deviation of normal intervals, the rootmean-square of successive differences, and the proportion of R-R intervals that differ by >50 ms from the previous R-R interval [16]. A decrease in these measurements represents the impairment of ANF in CVD [17].…”

“…The low-frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz) component of HRV is mediated by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activities, and the high-frequency (0.15-0.40 Hz) component of HRV is a marker of cardiac parasympathetic nervous function. The ratio of low frequency to high frequency indicates the predominance of sympathetic nerve activity [16]. HRV decreases with age as a result of reduced parasympathetic nervous system activity and the predominance of sympathetic modulation [18].…”

“…The RT program included 7-10 exercises per session. The subjects carried out RT with light loads (40-60% of 1RM) and a high number of repetitions (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) with three sets during the first 7 weeks. During weeks 8-14, the loads were increased up to 60-80% of 1RM with 6-12 repetitions per set.…”

Resistance Training and Autonomic Modulation in the Elderly

“…There are also frequent allusions to physical exercise as an intervention strategy that could have positive influences on the aging process, slowing some of the common disorders in old age [3,4] . Despite the evidence accumulated in recent years regarding the beneficial effects of regular physical exercise on chronic noncommunicable diseases as well as reduction of the risk of premature death [5][6][7][8] , health professionals continue to strongly diverge on the specific type, standard, quantity and intensity of exercise hat can provide measurable health benefits [9] . This is due to the wide range of combinations that the exercise overload prescription parameters present in the face of different health conditions of the population served.…”