Effects of aerobic training on heart rate dynamics in sedentary subjects

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effects of moderate- and high-volume aerobic training on the time domain and on spectral and fractal heart rate (HR) variability indexes. Sedentary subjects were randomized into groups with moderate-volume training (n = 20), high-volume training (n = 20), and controls (n = 15). The training period was 8 wk, including 6 sessions/wk at an intensity of 70-80% of the maximum HR, lasting for 30 min/session in the moderate-volume group and 60 min/session in the high-volume group. Time domain, frequency domain, and short-term fractal scaling measures of HR variability were analyzed over a 24-h period. Mean HR decreased from 70 +/- 7 to 64 +/- 8 beats/min and from 67 +/- 5 to 60 +/- 6 beats/min (P < 0.001 for both) for the moderate- and high-volume training groups, respectively. The normalized high-frequency spectral component increased in both groups (P < 0.05). The normalized low-frequency component decreased significantly (P < 0.05), resulting in a marked decrease in low frequency-to-high frequency ratio in both groups. In addition, short-term scaling exponent decreased in both groups (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the changes of HR variability indexes between groups. Aerobic training in sedentary subjects results in altered autonomic regulation of HR toward vagal dominance. A moderate training volume is a sufficient intervention to induce these beneficial effects.

Blood pressure and cardiac autonomic modulation at rest, during exercise and recovery time in the young overweight

“…These results corroborate the literature showing that aerobic training reduces the heart rate at rest and improving sympathovagal balance, and during physical exercise parasympathetic is blunted resulting in higher loads of HRVT, lactate and ventilatory threshold (Fronchetti, Nakamura, De-Oliveira, Lima-Silva, & Lima, 2007;Laursen et al, 2005;Lucía et al, 2000;Tulppo et al, 2003(Yamamoto, Miyachi, Saitoh, Yoshioka & Onodera,2000.…”

“…Due to the simplicity of measurement, heart rate behavior is widely studied in diverse health conditions associated to the resting rate (Cambri, DE Olivera, & Gevaerd, 2008;Fronchetti, Nakamura, Aguiar & Oliveira, 2006), as well as during physical exercise (Laursen, Shing, Peake, Coombes, & Jenkins, 2005;Lima & Kiss, 1999;Lucía et al, 2000;Tulppo et al, 2003;) and on a smaller scale, in the recovery time after exercise Cole, Blacktone, Pashkow, Snader, & Lauer, 1999;Fernandes, Adam, Costa, Silva & De-Oliveira, 2005;Kannankeril, Le, Kadish & Goldberger, 2004). Indeed, the heart rate at rest and during recovery time after exercise are utilized as indicators of aerobic fitness, monitoring cardiovascular adaptations and the autonomic function since the maintenance of heart rate values is a consequence of a balance between vagal tone and sympathetic activity.…”

Sample Entropy and Traditional Measures of Heart Rate Dynamics Reveal Different Modes of Cardiovascular Control During Low Intensity Exercise

“…Based on their potential to give additional information beyond traditional heart rate variability (HRV) indices [1], nonlinear parameters have been applied for investigating short and long term effects of exercise on heart rate (HR) control [5][6][7][8]. However, despite their diagnosticity and their clinical significance [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16], the physiological background of their behavior is not very well established.…”

Autonomic adaptation after traditional and reverse swimming training periodizations

“…Currently, the use of the heart rate variability (HRV) is also used as a method of training control and overtraining states diagnosis (27) and it is considered as an important parameter to assess the adaptive or non-adaptive response to sports training loads (24).…”