Heart Rate Response During And Post Graded Exercise Test In Elderly Male Runners According To Training Volume

Abstract

(No relationships reported) Heart rate (HR) response during and post exercise is controlled by combination of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity. It is known that aerobic endurance training exposes the heart to overload. This frequent exposure can result in alterations in cardiac automatism and autonomic modulation. Nevertheless, little is known about the heart rate response during and post exercise in elderly runners (ER). PURPOSE: to evaluate heart rate response during graded exercise treadmill test and recovery period in ER according to training volume. METHODS: Twenty five ER (age= 71.4 ± 4.5) were divided into two groups: 42 k runners (Group 1, n= 10); and 10 k runners (Group 2, n= 15). All subjects performed a graded treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine the maximal aerobic capacity and ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT). HR response during exercise was evaluated by relative change ([DELTA]%) for intervals between rest to VAT, VAT to peak, and rest to peak. HR recovery at both one minute ([DELTA]HRR1) and two minutes ([DELTA]HRR2) were defined as the difference between HR at peak of exercise and at 1 and 2 minutes post exercise, respectively. RESULTS: Group 1 had similar relative aerobic fitness compared to Group 2. There were statistical difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in relation to [DELTA]HRR1 and [DELTA]HRR2 P< 0.05 considered statiscally significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that elderly male runners with greater training volume showed both an increase in vagal reactivation and decrease cardiac sympathetic activity following recovery period. In conclusion, the present results suggest a positive influence of increased training volume on cardiac autonomic modulation in elderly male runners.