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

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.

Overload - autonomic nervous system - respiratory sinus arrhythmia

References

• 1 Bergstrom J, Hermansen L, Hultman E, Saltin B. Diet, Muscle glycogen and physical performance.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1967;  71 140-150
• 2 Bernardi L, Passino C, Robergs R, Appenzeller O. Acute and persistent effects of a 46-kilometer wilderness trail run at altitude: Cardiovascular autonomic modulation and baroreflexes.  Cardiovasc Res. 1997;  34 273-280
• 3 Furlan R, Piazza S, Dell'Orto S, Gentile E, Cerutti S, Pagani M, Malliani A. Early and late effects of exercise and athletic training on neural mechanisms controlling heart rate (see comments).  Cardiovasc Res. 1993;  27 482-488
• 4 James D V, Doust J H. Oxygen uptake during moderate intensity running: response following a single bout of interval training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1998;  77 551-555
• 5 James D V, Doust J H. Oxygen uptake during high-intensity running: response following a single bout of interval training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1999;  79 237-243
• 6 James D V, Doust J H. Time to exhaustion during severe intensity running: response following a single bout of interval training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 337-345
• 7 Katona P G, Jih F. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: noninvasive measure of parasympathetic cardiac control.  J Appl Physiol. 1975;  39 801-805
• 8 Lehmann M, Foster C, Dickhuth H H, Gastmann U. Autonomic imbalance hypothesis and overtraining syndrome.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 1140-1145
• 9 Maron M B, Horvath S M, Wilkerson J E. Blood biochemical alterations during recovery from competitive marathon running.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1977;  36 231-238
• 10 Piepoli M, Coats A J. Effects of exercise on the autonomic control of the heart: training or overtraining?.  Cardiovasc Res. 1994;  28 141-143
• 11 Sherman W M, Armstrong L E, Murray T M, Hagerman F C, Costill D L, Staron R C, Ivy J L. Effect of a 42.2 km footrace and subsequent rest or exercise on muscular strength and work capacity.  J Appl Physiol. 1984;  57 1668-1673
• 12 Sherman W M, Costill D L, Fink W J, Hagerman F C, Armstrong L E, Murray T F. Effect of a 42.2 km footrace and subsequent rest or exercise on muscle glycogen and enzymes.  J Appl Physiol. 1983;  55 1219-1224
• 13 Strano S, Lino S, Calcagnini G, di Virgilio V, Ciardo R, Cerutti S, Calcagnini G, Caselli G. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and cardiovascular neural regulation in athletes (see comments).  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 215-219
• 14 Uusitalo A L, Uusitalo A J, Rusko H K. Heart rate and blood pressure variability during heavy training and overtraining in the female athlete.  Int J Sports Med. 2000;  21 45-53