A New Approach for Evaluation of Cardiovascular Fitness and Cardiac Responses to Maximal Exercise Test in Master Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac autonomic function at rest, at maximum exercise, and in recovery after exercise and to determine sex-specific and age-specific values for resting heart rate (RHR), hear rate (HR)-peak, HR recovery (HRR), and HR variability at rest in master runners. Fifty endurance runners (21 women) participated in this study (43.28 ± 5.25 years). The subjects came from different athletic clubs in Andalusia (Spain), and the testing protocol was performed in-season. A 3-km running test was performed and the cardiovascular response was monitored. Regarding sex, no significant differences were found regarding cardiovascular autonomic function at rest, during exercise, and following maximal exercise, only at rest, the standard deviation of all R-R intervals and low frequency values displayed significantly (p < 0.05) lower scores in women. 46% of athletes showed an RHR < 60 bpm. Additionally, HR-peak showed a significant correlation with age (r = −0.369; p = 0.009) and HRR5min (r = 0.476, p = 0.001). Also, endurance performance was inversely associated with obesity traits and cardiometabolic risk factors. In summary, age, sex, fitness, or anthropometrics characteristics did not show a relevant influence on cardiovascular autonomic modulation in master runners. However, the 3-km performance displayed a significant negative association with several factors of cardiometabolic risk.

Exercise preconditioning improves electrocardiographic signs of myocardial ischemic/hypoxic injury and malignant arrhythmias occurring after exhaustive exercise in rats

“…HR, an index that reflects the state of cardiovascular function, is obviously influenced by exercise and is an important basis for determining exercise intensity 25 , 26 . A study showed that short-term exercise training could enhance the inotropic response to beta-adrenergic stimulation and that this enhancement was associated with increases in cardiac output and stroke volume during peak exercise 27 .…”

Cardiac Evaluation of Exercise Testing in a Contemporary Population of Preschool Children: A New Approach Providing Reference Values

“…The Software Firstbeat Sports (Firstbeat Technologies Ltd., Jyväskylä, Finland) performed HRV analysis for frequency and time-domain parameters. On one hand, the frequency domain analysis provided high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) spectrum, the HF being an indicator of parasympathetic activity while the LF can combine both sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation [32]. The study also calculated the ratio between the spectrums (LF/HF ratio), which is described in the literature as an indicator of sympathovagal balance [32].…”

“…On one hand, the frequency domain analysis provided high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) spectrum, the HF being an indicator of parasympathetic activity while the LF can combine both sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation [32]. The study also calculated the ratio between the spectrums (LF/HF ratio), which is described in the literature as an indicator of sympathovagal balance [32]. Following Bobkowski et al [33], this work avoided HF and LF in normalized units.…”

Beneficios y riesgos de la práctica de la carrera de resistencia en corredores veteranos. Un análisis crítico ( Benefits and risks of endurance running in veteran runners. A critical análisis)

“…Recientemente, Latorre et al, (2022b) destacan que aunque los ciclistas recreativos veteranos muestran menor valores de VFC que los jóvenes, éstos se siguen situando por encima de los valores de referencia para una población sana (Nunan, Sandercock, & Brodie, 2010), mostrando otros parámetros de respuesta cardiaca a la carga de entrenamiento similares a ciclistas jóvenes. Del mismo modo, Latorre-Román et al, (2022a) señalan que el 46% de los corredores veteranos analizados en su estudio mostró bradicardia. Además, la FC pico mostró una correlación significativa con la edad (r=-0,369; p=0,009) y con la FCR a los 5 min (r=0,476, p=0,001).…”