Monitoring Heart Rate Variability and Perceived Well-Being in Brazilian Elite Beach Volleyball Players: A Single-Tournament Pilot Study

Abstract

Nakamura, FY, Torres, VBC, da Silva, LS, Gantois, P, Andrade, AD, Ribeiro, ALB, Brasileiro-Santos, MdS, and Batista, GR. Monitoring heart rate variability and perceived well-being in Brazilian elite beach volleyball players: A single-tournament pilot study. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1708–1714, 2022—The aim of this study was to monitor the changes in heart rate variability (HRV) and perceptual well-being status after a beach volleyball (BV) tournament day in high-level U17 and senior players. Seventeen BV players (U17 [15–16 years]: n = 08; and senior [19–41 years]: n = 09) competing at national and/or international BV level participated in this study. Resting HRV and perceptual well-being measures were recorded across 4 moments: night 1 (prematches night), morning 1 (prematches morning), night 2 (postmatches night), and morning 2 (postmatches morning). Session rating of perceived exertion was assessed 10 minutes after each match, and accumulated match loads were used for analysis. Senior players presented higher values of natural logarithm of square root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals (lnRMSSD) at the 4 observation moments than U17 players (p = 0.006). Within-subjects analysis showed a larger mean difference regarding both lnRMSSD and natural logarithm SD of normal R-R intervals (lnSDNN) between night 1 vs. night 2 in U17 players (effect size = 1.11 and, 0.96, respectively) compared with senior (effect size = 0.40 and 0.32, respectively). Accumulated match loads were negatively correlated with percentage change in lnRMSSD (r = −0.54; p = 0.037). U17 players showed higher well-being variation than senior (group × time; p = 0.02). In conclusion, the lnRMSSD index was able to discriminate the U17 and senior BV players, and maintaining high vagally related HRV indices is an important response to BV training and competition.

Mental Fatigue From Smartphone Use Reduces Volume-Load in Resistance Training: A Randomized, Single-Blinded Cross-Over Study

“…In this study, we assessed the time domain HRV indices including the square root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals (RMSSD) and the standard deviation of the R-R intervals (SDNN). These HRV indices were evaluated before participants engaged in any experimental conditions since it has been consistently reported that low-HRV indices are related to fatigue status (Kassiano et al., 2021; Nakamura et al., 2021).…”

Level of agreement between sPRO and Kubios software in the analysis of R-R intervals obtained by a chest strap

“…session-rating of perceived exertion) may provide insights into fatigue-recovery status of athletes. [2][3][4] When the training loads are properly managed, the training program often results in functional positive adaptations. [5][6][7][8] On the other hand, long periods of training load intensification with insufficient recovery result in reduced athletic performance and impaired psychophysiological status.…”

“…15 At rest, higher values of vagally HRV indices may represent higher training status and readiness to perform in training sessions and competitive matches. 4,7,16 On the other hand, reduced vagal activity after submaximal exercise is often related to impaired training status and fitness. 17 Therefore, HRV is a relevant physiological parameter for monitoring an athlete's cardiac autonomic changes at rest and after physical exercise [18][19][20] to guide strength and conditioning coaches to design fitness programs and manage the athlete training loads.…”

“…28 From a practical perspective, it is important to further understand the accuracy of the devices/software used to evaluate HRV indices in the field, as this may allow coaches and strength and conditioning professionals to assess the athletes' cardiac autonomic modulation. 4 In order to provide accurate data to assist coaches in decision making when planning and principally adjusting the training load, the present study aimed to compare the time-domain HRV indices derived from Realtrack Systems manufacturer software (sPRO) with those obtained using the Kubios HRV Standard.…”

“…muscle explosive power) 11,12 and subjective (e.g. wellness) 4,13 responses to different training regimens plays a key role to design the optimal weekly training plan to induce performance enhancement.…”