Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(4): 247-251
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-29077
Physiology and Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Heart Rate Variability: Response Following a Single Bout of Interval Training

D.  V.  B.  James1 , A.  J.  Barnes1 , P.  Lopes2 , D.  M.  Wood1
  • 1University of Gloucestershire, Leisure and Sport Research Unit, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK
  • 2University of East London, Dept. of Health Sciences, Stratford, London, UK
Further Information

Publication History



October 6, 2001

Publication Date:
14 May 2002 (online)

Preview

Abstract

We investigated the effect of exercise on heart rate variability by analysing the heart rate power spectrum prior to, and 1 and 72 h following, an interval training session. Subjects initially performed a graded test to exhaustion to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) and the running speed at which V˙O2max was first attained (vV˙O2max). The training session was completed on a separate day and comprised six 800 m runs at 1km × h-1 below vV˙O2max. Prior to the training session (pre), 1 h following the training session (+ 1h), and 72 h following the training session (+ 72h), subjects sat quietly in the laboratory for 20 min whilst breathing frequency was maintained at 12 breath × min-1. Cardiac cycle R-R interval data were collected over the final 5 min of each 20 min period and analysed by means of autoregressive power spectral analysis to determine the high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) components of heart rate variability. Heart rate was higher, and the standard deviation of the R-R intervals was lower, at + 1 h than for pre or + 72 h (p < 0.05). The HF and the LF components of heart rate variability were also lower (p < 0.05) for + 1 h than for pre or + 72 h when the data were expressed in ms2. However, no changes in the LF:HF ratio were observed, and the changes in the HF and LF components disappeared when the data were expressed as a fraction of the total power. Whilst these findings illustrate the importance of controlling the timing of exercise prior to the determination of heart rate variability, the time course of the post-exercise heart rate variability response remains to be quantified.

References

D. V. B. James

University of Gloucestershire · Leisture and Sport Research Unit

Francis Close Hall · Swindon Rd · Cheltenham · Gloucestershire GL50 4AZ · U.K. ·

Phone: +44 (0) 1242 543295

Fax: +44 (0) 1242 543283

Email: djames@chelt.ac.uk