Longitudinal changes in cardiac autonomic function and aerobic fitness indices in endurance runners: A case study with a high‐level team

Abstract

To determine the effects of preparatory phase training on aerobic parameters, resting heart rate variability (HRV) and 5-km performance of high-level endurance runners and the relationship between the percentage change (% change) of resting HRV with the % change of aerobic parameters and 5-km performance. Six runners were assessed before and after seven weeks of training. The aerobic parameters were determined in an incremental test. The HRV was assessed by a heart rate monitor. Athletes performed a 5-km running test in a track. The analysis revealed 'likely' and 'very likely' improvements for velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2max) (20.0±1.0 km·h(-1) to 21.2±0.6 km·h(-1)) and 5-km performance (18.0±0.4 km·h(-1) to 18.9±0.7 km·h(-1)), respectively, as well as 'likely' decrease in high frequency (41.4±18.5 nu to 30.4±14.3 nu), and increase in low frequency (58.5±18.5 nu to 69.6±14.3 nu) band densities. The variation in the velocity associated with [Formula: see text]O2max showed the highest correlation with 5-km performance (r=0.95). The % change in the square root of the mean sum of the squared differences between R-R intervals and standard deviation 1 were highly correlated with variation in 5-km performance (r=0.69 and 0.66). Changes in the velocity associated with [Formula: see text]O2max and vagally mediated HRV were highly associated with 5-km running performance within the investigated team. These results have important implications because these parameters can be assessed longitudinally to monitor adaptation to training.

Sensitivity of Monthly Heart Rate and Psychometric Measures for Monitoring Physical Performance in Highly Trained Young Handball Players

“…3). The lack of sensitivity of HR measures to changes in performance is in contrast to previous studies, where changes in both resting HR and HRV were associated with changes in aerobic-related running performance in team sport [15,30] and endurance [9,17,28,31,37] athletes. These discrepancies may be related to the fact that in the present study, HR(V) was collected on a single day, while in the some of the other studies, HR(V) was collected daily and averaged over a week [9,28,31].…”

Ultra-short-term heart rate variability during resistance exercise in the elderly

“…HRV measurements may help determine the timing of intensive training sessions based on the autonomic regulation status, even in the presence of declined, vaguely mediated beat-to-beat HRV (31 –33). Studies have demonstrated that it is possible to assess metabolic transition during dynamic resistance exercise in healthy elderly subjects by HRV indices calculation.…”

Predictors of individual adaptation to high‐volume or high‐intensity endurance training in recreational endurance runners

“…Many studies have shown that cardiovascular autonomic regulation, as measured by heart rate variability (HRV), is an important determinant of endurance training adaptation and is related to individual heterogeneity of the adaptation. Increased resting HRV has been associated with the positive adaptation (increased VO 2max or maximal aerobic speed) to endurance training (Hautala et al., ; Buchheit et al., ; Nummela et al., ; Boutcher et al., ; Plews et al., ; Da Silva et al., ). In addition, the positive relationship between vagal mediated resting HRV (high‐frequency power, HFP) at baseline and increase in VO 2max has been observed in the previous studies of Hautala et al.…”