Heart rate dynamics after controlled training followed by a home-based exercise program

Abstract

Daily aerobic training results in autonomic control of the heart toward vagal dominance. The constancy of vagal dominance after controlled training followed by a home-based training program in accordance with contemporary guidelines is not known. We set out here to study whether the vagal dominance induced by 8 weeks of controlled aerobic training is preserved after a 10-month home-based training program. For the controlled study, healthy men were randomized as training (n=18) and control subjects (n=6). The training was started by a supervised 8-week period with six training sessions a week [45 (15) min each] at an intensity of 70-80% of maximum heart rate, followed by a home-based training program for 10 months in accordance with the American College of Sports Medicine recommendations. Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed by analyzing HR variability over a 24-h period and separately during the night hours (midnight-6 a.m.). Maximal running performance improved during the controlled training 16 (7)% (range 4-31%, P<0.001) and remained 8 (8)% (range -3 to 23%, P<0.001) above the baseline level after the home-based training program. At night, the vagally mediated high-frequency (HF) power of R-R intervals increased during the controlled training from 6.7 (1.3) to 7.3 (1.1) ln ms2 ( P<0.001) and remained higher than the baseline after the home-based training [7.0 (1.3) ln ms2, P<0.05]. The changes in running performance correlated with the changes in HF power at night (r=0.41, P<0.05) and over 24 h (r=0.44, P<0.05) after the home-based training program. Similarly, the changes in body mass index correlated with the changes in HF power over 24 h (r=-0.44, P<0.05) after the home-based training program. The high vagal outflow to the heart after the home-based training is associated with good physical performance and body mass control.

Effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibition with pyridostigmine on cardiac parasympathetic function in sedentary adults and trained athletes

“…In previous cross-sectional studies, trained athletes exhibited increased heart rate recovery after exercise (30) and an increase in the parasympathetic indexes of resting heart rate variability (20, 54) compared with sedentary controls. Longitudinal studies confirm that participation in aerobic exercise training programs increases parasympathetic indexes of resting heart rate variability and heart rate recovery (23,26,36,40,57,58). Accordingly, we anticipated that increased parasympathetic tone in our trained subjects (14) would be associated with increased synaptic levels of acetylcholine and therefore would provide more abundant substrate for pyridostigmine.…”

Effects of short-term endurance exercise training on vascular function in young males

“…The positive eVects of exercise training on cardiovascular performance have been well documented Hautala et al 2004;Tanaka et al 2000). Several long-term studies provide evidence of reductions in central and peripheral arterial stiVness with endurance exercise training in both young (Cameron and Dart 1994;Kakiyama et al 2005) and older (Collier et al 2008;Tanaka et al 2000) populations.…”

“…As a result, arterial stiVness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Laurent et al 2001). The training-induced attenuation of arterial stiVness has been attributed to improved endothelial function Martin et al 1990) and reductions in sympathetic tone (Hautala et al 2004;Melanson and Freedson 2001) rather than structural alterations and remodeling given the relatively short time-period required for adaptation.…”

Influence of skin type and wavelength on light wave reflectance

“…1,21,27,30,42,47 By assuming the linearity of heart rate and oxygen consumption, heart rate provides a window into the cardiovascular stress being placed on the body during exercise. 1,17,34 HRM are convenient means to ensure that exercise is performed at a proper intensity. 10,11,12,14,17,21 In particular, endurance athletes use HRM as a key component in training to ensure proper adaptation and protect against overexertion and overtraining.…”

“…1,17,34 HRM are convenient means to ensure that exercise is performed at a proper intensity. 10,11,12,14,17,21 In particular, endurance athletes use HRM as a key component in training to ensure proper adaptation and protect against overexertion and overtraining. 1,11 Although heart rate monitoring provides a practical approach for training, exercise and clinical and research applications, traditional HRM faces several limitations.…”