Regresar

Effects of a 75-km mountain ultra-marathon on heart rate variability in amateur runners

Abstract:

BacKGrouNd: This study examined the effects of a mountain ultra-marathon (MuM) on the activity of the autonomous nervous system through heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring and determined whether this variable related to final performance. MeThodS: heart rate and hrV were measured in eight male amateur runners (aged 37-60 years). Measurements were recorded before and after the event, in resting conditions, as well as continuously throughout the whole MuM. in addition, percentage (%) of heart rate reserve (hrres) and partial and total times during the race were analyzed. reSulTS: average heart rate (hravg) measured at rest was increased after the event (+37%). Standard deviation of successive differences (SdSd) and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (rMSSd) were reduced after the MuM (-56% and -59%, respectively). There was a positive relationship between the frequency-domain index normalized low frequency power (PLFn) measured at rest before the event and race time (0.79) while there was a negative relationship between race time and the difference in hravg before and after the event. In the last half of the event, there was a high correlation (Spearman coefficient of correlation >0.9) between race time and the standard deviation of the NN intervals (SdNN) registered during the race. coNcluSioNS: autonomous cardiac regulation can be related to the performance in a mountain ultra-marathon. hrV monitoring could represent a practical tool for the evaluation of the relationship between the autonomous nervous system activity and performance in a mountain ultra-marathon.