Heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, and baroreflex sensitivity in overtrained athletes

Abstract

Copyright © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.ObjectiveTo assess the effects of abruptly intensified physical training on cardiovascular control.DesignRetrospective longitudinal study.SettingResearch laboratory.ParticipantsTen healthy athletes (5 men and 5 women) from track and field as well as triathlon.InterventionsA 2-week training camp, including daily stepwise increasing cycling tests, running of 40 minutes, and additional cycling of 60 minutes.Main outcome measurementsTime and frequency domain parameters of resting heart rate and blood pressure variability (HRV and BPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), before, during, and after the training camp.ResultsWe found significantly reduced HRV during the training camp (mean beat-to-beat interval: 1042 [937 to 1194] ms vs. 933 [832 to 1103] ms vs. 1055 [947 to 1183] ms, P ConclusionAbruptly intensified physical training results in an altered autonomic cardiovascular activity towards parasympathetic inhibition and sympathetic activation that can be monitored by means of HRV and BRS analyses and might provide useful markers to avoid the overtraining syndrome.Mathias Baumert; Lars Brechtel; Jürgen Lock; Mario Hermsdorf; Roland Wolff; Vico Baier and Andreas Vos