Autonomic Function Predicts Fitness Response to Short-Term High-Intensity Interval Training

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that baseline cardiac autonomic function and its acute response to all-out interval exercise explains individual fitness responses to high-intensity interval training (HIT). Healthy middle-aged sedentary men performed HIT (n=12, 4–6×30 s of all-out cycling efforts with 4-min recovery) or aerobic training (AET, n=9, 40–60 min at 60% of peak workload in exercise test [Load_peak]), comprising 6 sessions within 2 weeks. Low (LF) and high frequency (HF) power of R-R interval oscillation were analyzed from data recorded at supine and standing position (5+5 min) every morning during the intervention. A significant training effect (p< 0.001), without a training*group interaction, was observed in Load_peak and peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak). Pre-training supine LF/HF ratio, an estimate of sympathovagal balance, correlated with training outcome in Load_peak (Spearman’s rho [r_s]=−0.74, p=0.006) and VO_2peak (r_s=− 0.59, p=0.042) in the HIT but not the AET group. Also, the mean change in the standing LF/HF ratio in the morning after an acute HIT exercise during the 1^st week of intervention correlated with training response in Load_peak (r_s=− 0.68, p=0.014) and VO_2peak (r_s=−0.60, p=0.039) with HIT but not with AET. In conclusion, pre-training cardiac sympathovagal balance and its initial alterations in response to acute HIT exercise were related to fitness responses to short-term HIT.

Key words

heart rate variability - exercise training - individual training adaptation

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