2. HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN ORTHOSTATIC TEST DURING DIFFERENT
TRAINING PERIODS IN ELITE SWIMMERS
Esa Hynynen1, Xavier Iglesias2, Belén Feriche3, Carmen Calderón4, Xavier Ábalos2, Jairo Vázquez2, Anna Barrero2,
Lara Rodríguez2, Benjamin D. Levine, FACSM 5, Ferran A. Rodríguez, FACSM 2
1
KIHU – Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyväskylä, Finland, 2 INEFC, University of Barcelona, Spain, 3 FCAFyD,
University of Granada, Spain, 4 Sierra Nevada High Altitude Training Center, Granada, Spain, 5 IEEM/UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX
ABSTRACT METHODS 600
250
Intense training has been shown to change the autonomic modulation of the Eleven elite swimmers (7 females and 4 males, age 17.9 ± 500
heart in endurance athletes assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. In
overtraining state HRV diminished in athletes of different sports. PURPOSE: 1.9 years) lived and trained for 8 weeks before national 200
This study investigated the effects of intensified training and tapering on HRV championships qualifying for European championships. The 400
TRIMP (a.u.)
LF/HF ratio (%)
P = 0.01
in elite swimmers. METHODS: Eleven elite swimmers (7 F and 4 M, age 17.9 swimmers followed the individual training programs set by 150
± 1.9 y) lived and trained for 8 weeks before national championships qualifying
for European championships. This follow-up period was divided to following their coaches. This follow-up period was divided to 300
microcycles: preparatory general, intensified training, preparatory specific, pre- following microcycles: preparatory general, intensified 100
competition (tapering), and competition periods. RR-intervals were recorded 200
training, preparatory specific, pre-competition (tapering), P = 0.001 P = 0.039 P = 0.01
every morning in supine (8 min) and orthostatic (6 min) positions with beat-by- P = 0.02
beat heart monitors. Breathing was paced to 12 breaths/min. HRV was analyzed and competition periods. RR-intervals were recorded every 100 50
from the last 5-min period of both positions with FFT and autoregressive (AR) morning in supine (8 min) and orthostatic (6 min) positions
spectral power analysis. TRIMPs of every training session were calculated to with Polar RS800CX heart rate monitors (Polar Electro, 0 0
estimate training. Results are presented as averages of each period and expressed
in relative changes. RESULTS: Training load increased during the intensified Kempele, Finland). Breathing was paced to 12 breaths/min Pre general Intensified Pre spesific Pre comp Comp Pre general Intensified Pre spesific Pre comp Comp
training period (+86%, p=0.01) and progressively decreased during the pre- (Tempo Trainer metronome, Livermore, CA). HRV was Figure 1. Training load during the follow-up. Figure 3. Relative change of supine LF/HF ratio from the
competition and competition. HF spectral power during supine rest increased analyzed from the last 5-min period of both positions with preparatory general period.
during intensified training (+38%, P=0.03) but recovered to baseline thereafter
and stayed near baseline levels during tapering and competition periods. LF/HF autoregressive spectral power analysis (Kubios HRV 2.0,
ratio during supine rest progressively increased from preparatory general to Kuopio, Finland). TRIMPs of every training session were Table 1. Relative change of supine and orthostatic HR and
tapering (+58%, P=0.02) and competition periods (+66%, P=0.01). calculated to estimate training load. Results are presented as CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSION: The present findings are different from previous literature of HRV from the preparatory general period. The present findings are different from previous literature of
HRV in endurance athletes. Intensive training has been reported to decrease averages of each period and expressed in relative changes.
HRV acutely and a rebound was observed after a relative resting period. In this 2
Pre general Intensified Pre spesific Pre comp Comp HRV in endurance athletes. Intensive training has been
HRsu (ms ) 0 ± 5.3 2.6 ± 10.7 1.6 ± 10.2 0.4 ± 12.1 1.0 ± 13.3
study, increase of HRV seemed to be related to positive coping with increased LFsu (ms2) 0 ± 50.9 34.3 ± 150.8 19.8 ± 126.6 38.8 ± 146.2 33.0 ± 99.6
reported to decrease HRV acutely and a rebound has been
training stress of elite swimmers. Interpretation of LF/HF ratio has been
RESULTS HFsu (ms2) 0 ± 36.8 37.7 ± 108.4 * 4.1 ± 66.8 11.7 ± 81.5 7.5 ± 63.2 observed after a relative resting period. In this study, increase
questionable, but it has been used as an indicator of the balance of autonomic HRor (ms2)
nervous system. Therefore, these findings suggest that the sympathetic activity of
0 ± 6.6 5.8 ± 16.9 * 5.1 ± 13.4 3.3 ± 20.9 1.1 ± 19.7 of HRV seemed to be related to positive coping with
LFor (ms2) 0 ± 36.6 24.1 ± 77.5 41.7 ± 102.4 38.8 ± 66.9 55.7 ± 146.7
elite swimmers may increase during rest as an anticipatory effect of competition Training load increased during the intensified training HFor (ms2) 0 ± 51.0 86.2 ± 246.1 76.2 ± 181.3 104.2 ± 275.3 * 117.8 ± 324.0 increased training stress of elite swimmers. Inter-individual
period. period (Fig. 1) and progressively decreased during the pre- HR: heart rate, LF: low frequency power, HF: high frequency power, su: supine, or: orthostatic variance is, however, very large. Therefore, individual follow-
Supported by CSD (35/UPB10/10, 05/UPB32/10) and MICINN competition and competition periods. * P < 0.05, statistical difference to pre general period
(DEP2009-09181) grants.
up is probably the best way to utilize these measurements in
everyday training / coaching. Interpretation of LF/HF ratio
There were only small changes in heart rate, but large has been questionable, but it has been used as an indicator of
INTRODUCTION variability in HRV indices during the follow-up (Table 1). the balance of autonomic nervous system. Therefore, these
160
Elite athletes use hard training periods to induce so-called HF spectral power during supine rest increased during findings suggest that the sympathetic activity of elite
“functional overreaching” state. After an appropriate period intensified training (Fig. 2) but recovered to baseline 140 swimmers may increase during rest as an anticipatory effect
of easier training and recovery (tapering), increased thereafter and stayed near baseline levels during tapering and 120 of competition period.
performance may be achieved. Hard training periods and competition periods. LF/HF ratio during supine rest
HF power (%)
100
sessions have been shown to affect nocturnal autonomic progressively increased from preparatory general to tapering REFERENCES
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P = 0.03 Hynynen E. et al. 2008. Int J Sports Med, 29: 552-558.
stress response with a rebound of HRV after recovery. intensified training (Fig. 2) but recovered to baseline Hynynen E. et al. 2010. Int J Sports Med, 31: 428-432.
Lower HRV during wakefulness has been found in thereafter and stayed near baseline levels during tapering and 20
Pichot V. et al. 2000. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32: 1729-
overtrained athletes in comparison to control athletes competition periods. LF/HF ratio during supine rest 0 1736.
Pre general Intensified Pre spesific Pre comp Comp
(Hynynen et al. 2008). Previously, however, HRV indices progressively increased from preparatory general to tapering
and competition periods (Fig. 3). Figure 2. Relative change of supine HFP from the E-mail: esa.hynynen@kihu.fi
failed to show any significant changes in the follow-up of preparatory general period.
elite swimmers (Atlaoui et al. 2007).
This study was done to investigate the effects of intensified
training and tapering on HRV in elite swimmers.
59th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), San Francisco, California, USA May 29 – June 2, 2012 www.kihu.fi
