Heart rate variability to assess ventilatory threshold in ski‐mountaineering

Abstract

The capacity to predict the heart rate (HR) and speed at the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds was evaluated during an incremental ski-mountaineering test using heart rate variability (HRV). Nine skiers performed a field test to exhaustion on an alpine skiing track. VT1 and VT2 were individually determined by visual analysis from gas exchanges (VT1V and VT2V) and time-varying spectral HRV analysis (VT1fH, VT2fH and VT2H). VT1 could not be determined with the HRV methods used. On the contrary, the VT2 was determined in all skiers. No significant difference between HR and speed at VT2H and VT2V was observed (174.3 ± 5.6 vs. 174.3 ± 5.3 bpm, and 6.3 ± 0.9 and 6.3 ± 0.9 km h(-1), respectively). Strong correlations were obtained for HR (r = 0.91) and speed (r = 0.92) at VT2H and VT2V with small limits of agreement (±3.6 bpm for HR). Our results indicated that HRV enables determination of HR and speed at VT2 during a specific ski-mountaineering incremental test. These findings provide practical applications for skiers in order to evaluate and control specific training loads, at least when referring to VT2.

An investigation into the relationship between heart rate variability and the ventilatory threshold in healthy moderately trained males

“…For the spectral analysis, a short-term Fourier transform was applied with a moving window of 64 s and time shift of 10 s (Cassirame et al, 2015). The high-frequency band was extended (>0Á15-0Á4 Hz to >0Á15-2 Hz) to consider spectral energy content resulting from increases in respiratory frequency during high-intensity exercise (Cottin et al, 2006a,b).…”

“…Based on the physiological mechanisms involving vagal withdrawal and the effects of hyperpnoea on high-frequency oscillations during high-intensity exercise, two techniques using HRV to indirectly detect both the VT and RCP have been investigated. The more complex of the two relies on the interaction between respiration frequency and autonomic innervation of the heart (Anosov et al, 2000;Cassirame et al, 2015;Cottin et al, 2006a,b;Mourot et al, 2014). However, recently it has been shown that both limb movement and respiration have the capacity to entrain within the power spectrum of the high-frequency band making its practicality questionable (Mendia-Iztueta et al, 2016).…”

Ski Mountaineering – Evaluation of a Sports Specific Performance Diagnosis

“…Although sport specific performance diagnosis and test protocols have been developed for nearly every type of sport (e. g. running, cycling, swimming, rowing, climbing,...) [14], no established method of performance diagnosis presently exists for skimo. While some studies have tried to use heart rate variability during field tests [1,9] to gain training recommendations and thresholds, others have focused on energy expenditure [2] or speed and optimal slope gradients [2,5,7]. All previous laboratory tests have used either roller skis [6], maximal running tests [2,4] or mountain running tests (stepwise increased slope) [4], with roller skis representing the closest approximation to skimo.…”

Effects of R-R time series accuracy on heart rate variability indexes

“…During submaximal exercise in apparently healthy subjects values as low as 6 ms have been reported . HRV analysis during exercise is also performed to determine ventilatory thresholds (Cassirame, et al, 2014;Mourot, et al, 2011). Initially, RRts were obtained from ECG recordings performed in laboratories or clinical environments and only ECG Holter monitoring was performed in an ambulatory setting.…”