Effect of a Training Week on Heart Rate Variability in Elite Youth Rugby League Players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of weekly training including a competitive game on heart rate (HR) variability (HRV). Youth players (n=9, age 17-20 years) were monitored during daily supine rest (10 min) and standing (8 min), 5 times over 8 days. Heart rate recordings were analysed for time domain, frequency (e. g. low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF]) domain and non-linear measures of HRV and compared using ANOVA or Friedman's tests. Relationships between HRV and training workloads were examined via Spearman rank rho (ρ) correlation coefficients. Prior to a game, mean HR was significantly increased and remained elevated until 2 days post-game while parasympathetic modulations (HF) were significantly reduced (p<0.05). The supine to standing change in HRV was significantly reduced for up to 4 days post-game (LF/HF ratio, - 1.0±2.9 vs. - 3.0±1.9, p<0.05). These results confirm that prior to a game, players exhibited reduced parasympathetic and/or predominant sympathetic modulation with the game significantly reducing autonomic responses to standing for up to the following 4 days. Identification of day to day fluctuations in HRV may provide a helpful tool for monitoring player workload to maximise training and game performance.

Monitoring Fatigue During the In-Season Competitive Phase in Elite Soccer Players

“…Previous work in elite gymnastics, rugby and rowing have also found correlations with various measures of HRV and daily/total training load using session ratings of perceived exertion. [28][29][30] Although limited HRV data exists in team sports, the use of vagal related HR indices with endurance athletes is more extensive. 4,31,32 Indeed, based on data derived from endurance sports it is suggested that the use of one single data point could be misleading for practitioners due to the high day-to-day variation in these indices.…”

Adequacy of the Ultra-Short-Term HRV to Assess Adaptive Processes in Youth Female Basketball Players

“…In practice, ultra-short-lnRMSSD procedures facilitate more frequent monitoring due to less time requirements from athletes compared to traditional methodology and thus, enhance the practical usefulness of this tool in the field. More frequent data collection of lnRMSSD enables coaches to more effectively guide programming for athletes by manipulating training loads (Kiviniemi et al, 2007), detect fatigue and overreaching (Le Meur et al, 2013; Plews et al, 2012), evaluate training adaptations (Boullosa et al, 2013); and assess recovery status from training and competition (Bricout et al, 2010; Edmonds et al, 2013). Lastly, in the present study the relationship between the lnRMSSD and its delta changes was not correlated with changes in physical performance.…”

Heart rate variability in elite sprinters: effects of gender and body position

“…Due to the small simple size, common in studies with elite athletes (Edmonds et al, 2013;Abad et al, 2014), the intraand intergroup comparisons of HRV indices were assessed using magnitude-based inferences (MBI) (Hopkins et al, 2009). Natural log-transformations (ln) of all HRV indices were log-transformed prior to analysis to reduce bias arising from non-uniformity of error.…”