Acute effect of exercise session on the kinetics recovery of heart rate variability in young athletes

Abstract

Heart Rate Variability represents variations between consecutive heart beats (beat to beat or R-R intervals) and has long been used in stratification of the risk of sudden cardiac death and diabetic autonomic neuropathy. In recent years, HRV’s frequency and time domain indices have also gained increasing interest in sports science. The aim of this study was to analyze the kinetics of HRV 72 hours after performing an acute exercise that induces DOMS. A descriptive study was conducted in which 41 healthy and athlete’s males participated, who performed the eccentric exercise protocol described by Howatson to induce DOMS. The analysis of the HRV was carried out before, immediately after, and at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the acute exercise, using the Ambit3 monitor (Suunto, Amer Sports, Strava, Finland). The NN intervals were analyzed using Kubios HRV software (version 3.1.0) to measure standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) as a metric of a total variability and ratio of the low to high frequency power (HF/LF) as a metric of sympathovagal balance.