Abstract
Background: The estimate of aerobic-anaerobic threshold is commonly used for exercise prescription in athletes and non-athletes subjects; however, the methods currently used are expensive, and some of them use invasive techniques. The analysis of changes in heart rate variability during exercise may contribute to the introduction of a novel methodology to estimate the aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition. Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) through the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and compare the exercise intensities at which this happens to the moment when the aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition occurs, estimated by the ventilatory threshold 2 (VT2) in athletes and non-athletes. Methods: 24 male subjects were enrolled (12 athletes; 12 non-athletes). Ventilatory parameters and R-R intervals were recorded breath by breath in a maximal incremental intensity exercise. HRVT was estimated through DWT and the VT2 was determined by 5 indicators: respiratory quotient ≥1.0, non-linear increase of the VE and VCO 2 , decrease of the P ET CO 2 and increase of the P ET O 2 . Reserve heart rate frequency percentages (%RHRF) are determined, compared and correlated to VT2 (%RHRF-VT2) and HRVT (%RHRF-HRVT). We used a significance level of p<0.05 for all our analysis. Results: The results showed that there is no significant difference between the %RHRF-VT and %RHRF-HRVT in the assessed subject groups (total, athletes, non-athletes). There is a correlation between %RHRF-VT and %RHRF-HRVT in the whole group (r=0.91; p<0.001), athletes (r=0.84; p<0,001) and non-athletes (r=0.88; p<0,001). Conclusion: We conclude that the aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition (i.e. VT2) during an incremental maximal exercise can be estimated through the HRVT measured by the DWT in athletes and non-athletes. Keywords: non-linear analysis, anaerobic threshold, exercise test
Highlights
The aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition (AAMT) that is estimated throughout the use of the ventilatory parameters in a maximal incremental intensity exercise is one of the most used methods to determine the physical work load in aerobic training processes in athletes and non-athletes people (Knoepfli et al, 2004; Marks & Lightfoot, 1999)
It is in this context where heart rate variability (HRV) has become more important in the last time, understanding it as an analysis tool for cardiovascular variability that studies fluctuations between heartbeats expressed in the R-R intervals of the electrocardiogram (ECG) that has to be understood as an indicator of the integration of the autonomous nervous system responses given by several organs and systems when facing different stimuli (physical, pharmacological (Elghozi, Girard, & Laude, 2001) or psychological (Aubert, Seps, & Beckers, 2003; Drago et al, 2007; Sartor, Vailati, Valsecchi, Vailati, & La Torre, 2013; Thayer & Sternberg, 2006))
We examined the ability of HRV as a predictor of the aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition (AAMT) during the performance of a maximal incremental test in athletes and non-athletes
Summary
The aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition (AAMT) that is estimated throughout the use of the ventilatory parameters in a maximal incremental intensity exercise is one of the most used methods to determine the physical work load in aerobic training processes in athletes and non-athletes people (Knoepfli et al, 2004; Marks & Lightfoot, 1999). It is necessary to use some other assesment and analysis resources of biological signaling which allow accurately identify this key threshold in exercise prescription It is in this context where heart rate variability (HRV) has become more important in the last time, understanding it as an analysis tool for cardiovascular variability that studies fluctuations between heartbeats expressed in the R-R intervals of the electrocardiogram (ECG) that has to be understood as an indicator of the integration of the autonomous nervous system responses given by several organs and systems when facing different stimuli (physical, pharmacological (Elghozi, Girard, & Laude, 2001) or psychological (Aubert, Seps, & Beckers, 2003; Drago et al, 2007; Sartor, Vailati, Valsecchi, Vailati, & La Torre, 2013; Thayer & Sternberg, 2006)). Conclusion: We conclude that the aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition (i.e. VT2) during an incremental maximal exercise can be estimated through the HRVT measured by the DWT in athletes and non-athletes
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