Reliability of Resting and Postexercise Heart Rate Measures

Abstract

In this study, we compared the reliability of short-term resting heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) and postexercise parasympathetic reactivation (i.e., HR recovery (HRR) and HRV) indices following either submaximal or supramaximal exercise. On 4 different occasions, beat-to-beat HR was recorded in 15 healthy males (21.5 ± 1.4 yr) during 5 min of seated rest, followed by submaximal (Sub) and supramaximal (Supra) exercise bouts; both exercise bouts were followed by 5 min of seated recovery. Reliability of all HR-derived indices was assessed by the typical error of measurement expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV,%). CV for HRV indices ranged from 4 to 17%, 7 to 27% and 41 to 82% for time domain, spectral and ratio indices, respectively. The CV for HRR ranged from 15 to 32%. Spectral CVs for HRV were lower at rest compared with Supra (e.g., natural logarithm of the high frequency range (LnHF); 12.6 vs. 26.2%; P=0.02). HRR reliability was not different between Sub and Supra (25 vs. 14%; P=0.10). The present study found discrepancy in the CVs of vagal-related heart rate indices; a finding that should be appreciated when assessing changes in these variables. Further, Supra exercise was shown to worsen the reliability of HRV-spectral indices.

Variability in Heart Rate Recovery Measurements Over 1 Year in Healthy, Middle-Aged Adults

“…Al Haddad and colleagues [1] found similar reliability of ΔHRR to this study at 15-32% but current ΔHRR data is consistent with previous studies that have consistently concluded improved reliability of ΔHRR with longer recovery durations [2,4]. Most HRR studies focus on the delta change from peak exercise HR as this is the method implemented to identify abnormal HRR (for example HRR of <12 beats) and has been used since the late 1990's [8].…”

“…HRR after submaximal exercise has been previously reported to show high intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values, for exercise protocols above 65% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (APMHR), but highest values with protocols requiring at least 80% APMHR in healthy International Journal of Sports Medicine 2014, 35: 135-38 individuals [2]. However, other investigators found no difference in HRR reliability following submaximal and supramaximal exercise [1]. A recent review supports the use of HRR as a valuable tool to monitor changes in training status in athletes and less trained individuals, which would also encompass clinical populations, but they highlighted the need for the standardisation of HRR protocols [10].…”

Tracking Morning Fatigue Status Across In-Season Training Weeks in Elite Soccer Players

“…Ln rMSSD has previously been shown to have greater reliability and validity than spectral indices of HRV over short assessment periods. 18,19 The coefficient of variation for LnrMSSD was 10 % respectively. 6 Statistical Analyses…”

Heart rate variability is related to training load variables in interval running exercises

“…The reliability of HRV and HRR measures between exercise sessions may be described as moderate; reliability depends partly on e.g. exercise mode and the chosen parameters and analysis methods (Al Haddad et al 2011;Bosquet et al 2008). …”

“…Al Haddad et al (2011) investigated the reliability and repeatability of resting HRV, post-exercise HR recovery and different HRV indices on four different occasions. They found a lower coefficient of variation (CV) for HFPln during rest (13 %) when compared to immediate 5 minute recovery after supramaximal bouts of exercise (26 %).…”