Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(3): 154-159
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243221
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Endurance Performance and Nocturnal HRV Indices

A. Nummela1 , E. Hynynen1 , P. Kaikkonen1 , H. Rusko1 , 2
  • 1KIHU-Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Physiology, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 2University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biology of Physical Activity and Neuromuscular Research Center, Jyväskylä, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 10, 2009

Publication Date:
17 December 2009 (online)

Abstract

The effects of endurance training on endurance performance characteristics and cardiac autonomic modulation during night sleep were investigated. Twenty-four sedentary subjects trained over four weeks two hours per week at an average running intensity of 76±4% of their heart rate reserve. The R to R ECG-intervals were recorded and heart rate variability indices including high frequency power (HFP) were calculated for the nights following the training days every week. The subjects were divided into responders and non-responders according to the improvements in the maximal velocity of the incremental treadmill test (vmax). The responders improved their vmax by 10.9±46 % (p < 0.001) while no changes were observed in the non-responders (1.6±3.0%), although there were no differences in any training load variables between the groups. In the responders nocturnal HFP was significantly higher during the fourth training week compared to the first training week (p=0.036). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the change in vmax and the change in nocturnal HFP (r=0.482, p=0.042). It was concluded that after similar training, an increase in cardiac vagal modulation was related to improved vmax in the sedentary subjects.

References

  • 1 American College of Sports Medicine .ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2006: 133-173
  • 2 Aubert A, Seps B, Beckers F. Heart rate variability in athletes.  Sports Med. 2003;  33 889-919
  • 3 Aunola S, Rusko H. Aerobic and anaerobic thresholds determined from venous lactate or from ventilation and gas exchange in relation to muscle fiber composition.  Int J Sports Med. 1986;  7 161-166
  • 4 Banister EW. Modelling elite athletic performance. In: MacDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ (eds) Physiological Testing of the High-Performance Athlete 2nd edition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers Ltd 1991: 403-424
  • 5 Bonaduce D, Petretta M, Cavallaro V, Apicella C, Ianniciello A, Romano M, Breglio R, Marciano F. Intensive training and cardiac autonomic control in high-level athletes.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 691-696
  • 6 Bouchard C, Rankinen T. Individual differences in response to regular physical activity.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 446-451
  • 7 Boutcher SH, Stein P. Association between heart rate variability and training response in sedentary middle-aged men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1995;  70 75-80
  • 8 Brosschot JF, Van Dijk E, Thayer JF. Daily worry is related to low heart rate variability during waking and the subsequent nocturnal sleep period.  Int J Psychophysiol. 2007;  63 39-47
  • 9 Buchheit M, Simon C, Piquard F, Ehrhart J, Brandenberger G. Effects of increased training load on vagal-related indexes of heart rate variability: a novel sleep approach.  Am J Physiol. 2004;  287 H2813-H2818
  • 10 De Meersman RE. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia alteration following training in endurance athletes.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  64 434-436
  • 11 Durnin J, Rahaman M. The assessment of amount of fat in human body from measurements of skinfold thickness.  Br J Nutr. 1967;  21 681-689
  • 12 Goldsmith RL, Bigger  Jr  JT, Steinman RC, Fleiss JL. Comparison of 24 h parasympathetic activity in endurance-trained and untrained young men.  J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;  20 552-558
  • 13 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
  • 14 Haskell WL, Lee I-M, Pate RR, Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, Bauman A. Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association.  Circulation. 2007;  116 1081-1093
  • 15 Hautala AJ, Mäkikallio TH, Kiviniemi A, Laukkanen RT, Nissilä S, Huikuri HV, Tulppo MP. Cardiovascular autonomic function correlates with the response to aerobic training in healthy sedentary subjects.  Am J Physiol. 2003;  285 H1747-H1752
  • 16 Hautala AJ, Mäkikallio TH, Kiviniemi A, Laukkanen RT, Nissilä S, Huikuri HV, Tulppo MP. Heart rate dynamics after controlled training followed by a home-based exercise program.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  92 289-297
  • 17 Hedelin R, Kenttä G, Wiklund U, Bjerle P, Henriksson-Larsen K. Short-term overtraining: effects of performance, circulatory responses, and heart rate variability.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 1480-1484
  • 18 Hynynen E, Nummela A, Rusko H, Hämäläinen I, Jylhä R. Effects of training on cardiac autonomic modulation during night sleep in cross country skiers. In: Linnamo V, Komi PV, Müller E (eds) Science and Nordic Skiing. Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd 2007: 90-98
  • 19 Jackson A, Blair S, Mahar M, Weir L, Ross R, Stuteville J. Prediction of functional aerobic capacity without exercise testing.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 863-870
  • 20 Janssen MJ, de Bie J, Swenne CA, Oudhof J. Supine and standing sympathovagal balance in athletes and controls.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1993;  67 164-167
  • 21 Katona PG, McLean M, Dighton DH, Guz A. Sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac control in athletes and nonathletes at rest.  J Appl Physiol. 1982;  52 1652-1657
  • 22 Kiviniemi AM, Hautala AJ, Kinnunen H, Tulppo MP. Endurance training guided individually by daily heart rate variability measurements.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007;  101 743-751
  • 23 Loimaala A, Huikuri H, Oja P, Pasanen M, Vuori I. Controlled 5-mo aerobic training improves heart rate but not heart rate variability or baroreflex sensitivity.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 1825-1829
  • 24 Maciel BC, Gallo L, Neto JAM, Filho ECL, Filho JT, Manço JC. Parasympathetic contribution to bradycardia induced by endurance training in man.  Cardiovasc Res. 1985;  19 642-648
  • 25 Martinmäki K, Häkkinen K, Mikkola J, Rusko H. Effect of low-dose endurance training on heart rate variability at rest and during an incremental maximal exercise test.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;  104 541-548
  • 26 McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. (eds) Exercise Physiology. Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance 4th edition. Baltimore, MA: Williams & Wilkins 1996: 393-415
  • 27 Mourot L, Bouhaddi M, Perrey S, Rouillon JD, Regnard J. Quantitative pointcaré analysis of heart rate variability: effect of endurance training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  91 78-87
  • 28 Paavolainen LM, Nummela AT, Rusko HK. Neuromuscular characteristics and muscle power as determinants of 5-km running performance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 124-130
  • 29 Pichot V, Roche F, Gaspoz J-M, Enjolras F, Antoniadis A, Minini P, Costes F, Busso T, Lacour J-R, Barthélémy JC. Relation between heart rate variability and training load in middle-distance runners.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 1729-1736
  • 30 Portier H, Louisy F, Laude D, Berthelot M, Guezennec CY. Intense endurance training on heart rate and blood pressure variability in runners.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1120-1125
  • 31 Saalasti S. Neural networks for heart rate time series analysis. Doctoral thesis. Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Jyväskylä Studies in Computing 33, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 2003
  • 32 Sacknoff D, Gleim GW, Stachenfeld N, Coplan NL. Effect of athletic training on heart rate variability.  Am Heart J. 1994;  127 1275-1278
  • 33 Seals DR, Chase PB. Influence of physical training on heart rate variability and baroreflex circulatory control.  J Appl Physiol. 1989;  66 1886-1895
  • 34 Singer DH, Martin GJ, Magid N, Weiss JS, Schaad JW, Kehoe R, Zheutlin T, Fintel DJ, Hsieh AM, Lesch M. Low heart rate variability and sudden cardiac death.  J Electrocardiol. 1988;  21 S46-S55
  • 35 Singh JP, Larson MG, O’Donnell CJ, Tsuji H, Evans JC, Leavy D. Heritability of heart rate variability.  The Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 1999;  99 2251-2254
  • 36 Tsuji H, Larson MG, Venditti Jr FJ, Manders ES, Evans JC, Feldman CL, Levy D. Impact of reduced heart rate variability on risk for cardiac events.  The Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 1996;  94 2850-2855
  • 37 Tulppo MP, Mäkikallio TH, Seppänen T, Laukkanen RT, Huikuri HV. Vagal modulation of heart rate during exercise: effects of age and physical fitness.  Am J Physiol. 1998;  274 H424-H429
  • 38 Tulppo MP, Hautala AJ, Mäkikallio TH, Laukkanen RT, Nissilä S, Hughson RL, Huikuri HV. Effects of aerobic training on heart rate dynamics in sedentary subjects.  J Appl Physiol. 2003;  95 364-372

Correspondence

Dr. Ari Nummela

Research Institute for olympic Sports

Rautpohjankatu 6

40700 Jyväskylä

Finland

Phone: +358405439217

Fax: +358207811501

Email: ari.nummela@kihu.fi

    >