Author: María Carrasco-Poyatos1, Alberto González-Quílez2, Marco Altini3, Antonio Granero-Gallegos1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Education, Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120, Almeria, Spain.
<sup>2</sup> Department of Education, University of Almeria, 04120, Almeria, Spain.
<sup>3</sup> Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Conference/Journal: Physiol Behav
Date published: 2021 Nov 20
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113654. , Word Count: 266
Purpose:
to analyze the training structure following a heart rate variability (HRV) -guided training or traditional training protocol, determining their effects on the cardiovascular performance of professional endurance runners, and describing the vagal modulation interaction.
Methods:
This was an 8-week cluster-randomized controlled trial. Twelve professional endurance runners were randomly assigned to an HRV-guided training group (HRV-G; n=6) or a traditional training group (TRAD-G; n=6). The training methodology followed by the HRV-G was determined by their daily HRV scores. Training intensities were recorded daily. HRV4Training was used to register the rMSSD every morning and during a 60-second period. Cardiovascular outcomes were obtained through an incremental treadmill test. The primary outcome was the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).
Results:
total training volume was significantly higher in TRAD-G, but moderate intensity training was significantly higher in HRV-G (X±SDDif=1.98±0.1 %; P=0.006; d=1.22) and low intensity training in TRAD-G (X±SDDif=2.03±0.74 %; P=0.004; d=1.36). The maximal velocity increased significantly in HRV-G (P=0.027, d=0.66), while the respiratory exchange ratio increased in TRAD-G (P=0.017, d=1). There was a small effect on the LnRMSSD increment (P=0.365, d=0.4) in HRV-G. There were statistical inter-group differences in the ∆maximal heart rate when ∆LnrMSSD was considered as a covariable (F=7.58; P=0.025; d=0.487). There were significant and indirect correlations of LnRMSSDTEST with VO2max (r =-0.656, P=0.02), ∆LnrMSSD with ∆VO2max (r=-0.606, P=0.037), and ∆LnrMSSDCV with ∆VENT (r=-0.790, P=0.002).
Conclusions:
higher HRV scores suggest better cardiovascular adaptations due to higher training intensities, favoring HRV as a measure to optimize individualized training in professional runners.
Keywords: VO(2)max; endurance; professional; rMSSD; ventilatory threshold.
PMID: 34813821 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113654