Heart Rate Variability Reflects Similar Cardiac Autonomic Function in Explosive and Aerobically Trained Athletes.

Alex Claiborne,Helaine Alessio,Edwin Barth,Eric Slattery,Michael Hughes,Ronald Cox

doi:10.3390/ijerph182010669

Alex Claiborne, Helaine Alessio + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010669

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Abstract

Autonomic cardiac function can be indirectly detected non-invasively by measuring the variation in microtiming of heart beats by a method known as heart rate variability (HRV). Aerobic training for sport is associated with reduced risk for some factors associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but effects on autonomic function in different athlete types are less known. To compare cardiac autonomic modulation using a standard protocol and established CVD risk factors in highly trained intercollegiate athletes competing in aerobic, explosive, and cross-trained sports. A total of 176 college athletes were categorized in distinct sports as explosive (EA), aerobic (AA), or cross-trained (mixed) athletes. Eight different HRV measures obtained at rest were compared across training type and five health factors: systolic (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body weight (BW), sex, and race. All athletic types shared favorable HRV measures that correlated with low CVD risk factors and indicated normal sympathovagal balance. A significant correlation was reported between DBP and pNN50 (% RR intervals > 50 ms) (β = −0.214, p = 0.011) and between BW and low-frequency (LF) power (β = 0.205, p = 0.006). Caucasian and African American athletes differed significantly (p < 0.05) with respect to four HRV variables: pNN50, HF power, LF power, and LF/HF ratios. Explosive, aerobic and mixed athletes had similar cardiovascular and autonomic HRV results in all eight HRV parameters measured. All athletes reported LF and pNN50 values that were significantly correlated with two CVD risk factors: DBP and BW. Compared with Caucasian teammates, African American athletes demonstrated lower LF/HF and higher pNN50, indicating an even more favorable resting sympathovagal activity and healthy CV function.

Highlights

Exercise training is integral to the maintenance and improvement of cardiovascular function, with high aerobic capacity predicting low risk of premature all-cause mortality [1]
No other candidate predictors significantly associated with the heart rate variability (HRV) responses, and none of the associations that were statistically significant were very strong
HRV and power athletes from standardized research methodology; the current study shows that most resting HRV variables of cross-trained and power college-aged athletes are similar to those in aerobically trained college-aged athletes

Summary

Introduction

Exercise training is integral to the maintenance and improvement of cardiovascular function, with high aerobic capacity predicting low risk of premature all-cause mortality [1]. Healthy cardiovascular adaptations typically found in aerobically trained athletes include increased oxygen pulse [2], increased stroke volume and reduced blood viscosity [3,4], resulting in increased cardiac output and high aerobic capacity (VO2 max). Improvements in health-related fitness can manage or even reverse cardiovascular disease pathology. Despite the expected health effects associated with intensive exercise training of either or both sport type(s), the development of cardiovascular disease in athletes is still possible. Cardiovascular disease infiltrates the health of intercollegiate student athletes, in a few strength and power-related sports. A report on NCAA Division III football players discovered that these athletes had significantly more

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