The analysis of electrocardiographic parameters concatenations can be used to describe physiological changes in the whole body during physical load. Research aim was to analyse dynamical characteristics of electrocardiographic parameters in different physical ability men group during bicycle ergometry. The research contingent consisted of 63 healthy men, who according to the power achieved at the anaerobic threshold were divided into 2 groups. The following tests were used: anthropometric measurements, electrocardiography, bicycle ergometry, spiroergometry and mathematical statistics. During bicycle ergometry the pulmonary gas exchange rates were collected, which was used to establish the anaerobic threshold. This research has shown changes in the functional parameters of the cardiovascular system and inter-parametric concatenations of different fractal levels between aerobic and anaerobic work. This study established that the best results were obtained in the high aerobic power group. This research established that the functional parameters of the cardiovascular system depended on physical ability of the subjects. In the high aerobic power group, the body metabolism and regulatory systems (JT/QRS) and heart and body (RR/QRS) interaction was weaker, and the heart metabolism and regulatory systems (RR/JT) interaction was stronger than in other research group (p< 0.05) during physical load

Alfonsas Vainoras

Algė Daunoravičienė

Kristina Berškienė

Roza Joffe

Virginija Bertašiūtė

English

Vibroengineering PROCEDIA

 326 © JVE INTERNATIONAL LTD. VIBROENGINEERING PROCEDIA. OCTOBER 2014. VOLUME 3. ISSN 2345-0533  
Study on dynamical characteristics of 
electrocardiographic parameters during physical load 
Virginija Bertašiūtė1, Algė Daunoravičienė2, Kristina Berškienė3, Roza Joffe4, 
Alfonsas Vainoras5 
1, 2, 3Institute of Sports, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania 
4, 5Health Research Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania 
1Corresponding author 
E-mail: 1vrgnsed@gmail.com, 2algevita@gmail.com, 3k.berskiene@gmail.com, 4joffero@gmail.com, 
5alfavain@gmail.com 
(Accepted 22 September 2014) 
Abstract. The analysis of electrocardiographic parameters concatenations can be used to describe 
physiological changes in the whole body during physical load. Research aim was to analyse 
dynamical characteristics of electrocardiographic parameters in different physical ability men 
group during bicycle ergometry. The research contingent consisted of 63 healthy men, who 
according to the power achieved at the anaerobic threshold were divided into 2 groups. The 
following tests were used: anthropometric measurements, electrocardiography, bicycle ergometry, 
spiroergometry and mathematical statistics. During bicycle ergometry the pulmonary gas 
exchange rates were collected, which was used to establish the anaerobic threshold. This research 
has shown changes in the functional parameters of the cardiovascular system and inter-parametric 
concatenations of different fractal levels between aerobic and anaerobic work. This study 
established that the best results were obtained in the high aerobic power group. This research 
established that the functional parameters of the cardiovascular system depended on physical 
ability of the subjects. In the high aerobic power group, the body metabolism and regulatory 
systems (JT/QRS) and heart and body (RR/QRS) interaction was weaker, and the heart 
metabolism and regulatory systems (RR/JT) interaction was stronger than in other research group 
(݌ < 0.05) during physical load.  
Keywords: incremental physical load, aerobic and anaerobic work, dynamical characteristics of 
the electrocardiographic parameters. 
1. Introduction 
Peculiarities and opportunities of human adaptation to physical load are relevant tasks of 
physiology, sports and clinical medicine [1]. There are many research works which emphasize the 
unity of the body functions [2], synergic interaction [3] and show informative advantages of 
complex, integral and integrated assessments [4]. The further progress of medical diagnostic 
technologies is unthinkable without the development and usage of non-linear analysis methods 
based on chaos and complex systems theories [5]. In sports medicine and clinical practice one of 
the most popular tests of the body adaptation to physical load is bicycle ergometry test. The most 
common diagnostic tool which reflects a cardiac function is an electrocardiogram (ECG). It is a 
simple non-invasive method and the ECG parameters can be used to describe the physiological 
changes in the whole body [6]. Such studies will allow evaluating the changes of the body 
complexity during various interventions, identifying differences of body reactions in groups of 
different physical ability, and selecting suitable physical workload. 
An anaerobic threshold has been an important index of performance for assessing 
cardiopulmonary and muscle integration during aerobic exercise [7]. Scientific research has 
shown that it is important to choose an optimal physical exercise by establishing anaerobic 
threshold (AT), because above this level exhaustion and intramuscular pain are caused [8]. Usually 
AT is estimated by using either ventilatory measures (ventilatory threshold) or blood lactate 
measures (lactate threshold) [9]. In our research we used ventilatory measurement. 
The aim of the study was to analyse dynamical characteristics of electrocardiographic 
STUDY ON DYNAMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS DURING PHYSICAL LOAD.  
VIRGINIJA BERTAŠIŪTĖ, ALGĖ DAUNORAVIČIENĖ, KRISTINA BERŠKIENĖ, ROZA JOFFE, ALFONSAS VAINORAS 
 © JVE INTERNATIONAL LTD. VIBROENGINEERING PROCEDIA. OCTOBER 2014. VOLUME 3. ISSN 2345-0533 327 
parameters in different physical ability men group during bicycle ergometry. 
2. Methods 
2.1. Research subjects 
The investigated contingent consisted of 63 men, who volunteered to participate in this study 
(characteristics are presented in Table 1). The healthy men were divided into 2 groups according 
to the power level reached at the anaerobic threshold (in a weak aerobic power group (WAPG) 
the average of anaerobic threshold was 183.33±3.38 W (݊ = 33) and in a high aerobic power 
group (HAPG) the average of anaerobic threshold was 247.73±3.50 W (݊ = 30)) (݌ < 0.05). 
Initially, the data were collected from 72 weeks, but 9 cases were withdrawn from the final 
analysis due to the data failure. The subjects were informed about the experimental procedures to 
which they would be submitted and signed the informed consent form before taking part in the 
study. The volunteers were free to withdraw from the study at any time without any consequences. 
The study was approved by the Regional Ethics committee. 
Table 1. Characteristics of the investigated contingent 
The research group Weak aerobic power group (݊ = 33) 
High aerobic power 
group (݊ = 30) Statistical difference 
The average of anaerobic 
threshold (W) 183.33 ± 3.38 247.73 ± 3.50 ݌ < 0.05 
Age (m) 45.93 ± 2.31 40.93 ± 1.70 ݌ > 0.05 
Body mass index (kg/m2) 25.03 ± 0.42 24.46 ± 0.37 ݌ > 0.05 
The following methods were used in the research: anthropometric measurements, 
electrocardiography, blood pressure measurement, bicycle ergometry, spiroergometry and 
mathematical statistics. During bicycle ergometry the pulmonary gas exchange rates were 
collected, which was used to establish the anaerobic threshold.  
2.2. Experimental protocol 
All subjects completed a form about their health condition before participating in the research. 
Their anthropometric measurements (i. e. height, weight) were carried out. The subjects were 
familiarized with the experimental environment and the research personnel. After the initial 
measurements had been done, the participants without warm-up performed a computerized bicycle 
exercise stress test. A short-term provocative research protocol was used. The initial workload 
performed by all subjects was 50 W, and it was increased by 25 W every minute up to reaching 
sub-maximal power. The frequency of pedalling was 60 rotations/min. During the test 
electrocardiographic and pulmonary gas exchange parameters were synchronically and 
continuously registered during the whole bicycle ergometry test. Ventilatory variables were 
obtained through a computer-aided spiroergometric measurement system. The device presents the 
power values (W), oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), minute 
ventilation (VE) and heart rate (HR) applied at the exact time. The respiratory exchange ratio 
(RER) was also calculated and recorded in the research. The power applied to the cycle ergometer 
during exercise protocols was controlled by the system through an interface with the bicycle. The 
anaerobic threshold was established by the pulmonary gas exchange rate (O2/CO2), when the 
increased alveolar CO2 output relative to O2 uptake and registered respiratory exchange ratio (RER) 
were above 1. 
The computerized electrocardiographic registration and the analysis system “Kaunas-Load”, 
developed at the Institute of Cardiology of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, were used 
for evaluating a functional state of the cardiovascular system. ECG parameters were measured for 
each cardio cycle. The durational ECG parameters assessed were: duration of RR interval (ms) 
STUDY ON DYNAMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS DURING PHYSICAL LOAD.  
VIRGINIJA BERTAŠIŪTĖ, ALGĖ DAUNORAVIČIENĖ, KRISTINA BERŠKIENĖ, ROZA JOFFE, ALFONSAS VAINORAS 
328 © JVE INTERNATIONAL LTD. VIBROENGINEERING PROCEDIA. OCTOBER 2014. VOLUME 3. ISSN 2345-0533  
(RR), duration of JT interval (ms) (JT) and duration of QRS interval (ms) (QRS). Selected ECG 
parameters represent different fractal levels of the body: RR and JT describe systemic, QRS – 
cardiac intrinsic regulatory processes. New nonlinear analysis methods, such as second order 
matrix analysis, were used for concatenations evaluation. Concatenations which represent 
interactions of components of various body systems and changes according to the integration 
evaluation model were assessed: discriminant between RR and JT parameters (RR/JT), 
discriminant between RR and QRS parameters (RR/QRS), discriminant between JT and QRS 
parameters (JT/QRS).  
2.3. Data processing and statistical analysis 
The data were analysed using SPSS 16.0 for Windows programme. The Mann – Whitney test 
was applied for comparison of two independent samples. The alpha level of ݌ < 0.05 was required 
for statistical significance. Group data are presented as mean (݉) ± standard error of the mean 
(SEM). The parameters were rated by the maximum and minimum value. 
3. Results 
Analysing concatenation of ECG parameters, it was established that the heart metabolism and 
regulatory systems (RR/JT) interaction was stronger in HAPG than in WAPG (݌ < 0.05) (Fig. 1) 
during aerobic and anaerobic work. This shows strengthening of functional links between 
regulatory and supplying systems at the systemic level in the better physical ability group. 
 
Fig. 1. Discriminant of concatenation between RR and JT parameters during bicycle ergometry.  
Note: ݌ < 0.05 – statistical difference between groups 
A concatenation between RR and QRS parameters reflects connection between the two levels 
of regulatory systems (body and organ levels) (Fig. 2). This index in HAPG was weaker than in 
WAPG (݌ < 0.05) during aerobic and anaerobic work, so the better regulations between heart and 
body were in lower physical ability groups. 
JT/QRS in the high aerobic power group was weaker than in other research group (݌ < 0.05) 
during aerobic and anaerobic work (Fig. 3). Based on our research results it can be said that the 
body metabolism and regulatory systems concatenations depended on physical ability and it 
decreased in HAPG. 
STUDY ON DYNAMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS DURING PHYSICAL LOAD.  
VIRGINIJA BERTAŠIŪTĖ, ALGĖ DAUNORAVIČIENĖ, KRISTINA BERŠKIENĖ, ROZA JOFFE, ALFONSAS VAINORAS 
 © JVE INTERNATIONAL LTD. VIBROENGINEERING PROCEDIA. OCTOBER 2014. VOLUME 3. ISSN 2345-0533 329 
 
Fig. 2. Discriminant of concatenation between RR and QRS parameters during bicycle ergometry.  
Note: ݌ < 0.05 – statistical difference between groups 
  
Fig. 3. Discriminant of concatenation between JT and QRS during bicycle ergometry.  
Note: ݌ < 0.05 – statistical difference between groups 
4. Discussion 
The purpose of this study was to analyse dynamical characteristics of electrocardiographic 
parameters in different physical ability men group during physical load. The bicycle ergometer 
test was used in our investigation and it engaged a large muscle mass. Due to this reason 
Papievienė et al. (2014) assumed the important role of the functional capacity of the cardiovascular 
system during physical load [10]. This research also has shown changes in functional parameters 
of a cardiovascular system, i. e. the electrocardiographic parameters, and changes of 
inter-parametric concatenations (complexity) of different fractal levels during aerobic and 
STUDY ON DYNAMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS DURING PHYSICAL LOAD.  
VIRGINIJA BERTAŠIŪTĖ, ALGĖ DAUNORAVIČIENĖ, KRISTINA BERŠKIENĖ, ROZA JOFFE, ALFONSAS VAINORAS 
330 © JVE INTERNATIONAL LTD. VIBROENGINEERING PROCEDIA. OCTOBER 2014. VOLUME 3. ISSN 2345-0533  
anaerobic work. We demonstrated that the best results were shown in the high aerobic power 
group. 
We are aware that our study has limitations, particularly with regard to the small sample size 
and the constrained characteristics of our study population, which prevented from the evaluation 
of factors such as age and level of fitness, each of which is known to influence the variables of 
interest. Also, we are aware that the choice of a rapid work rate incremental protocol may have 
influenced the results utilized, i. e. different results may be observed if a slower work rate 
increment protocol is used. We took precautions to limit errors in the calibration procedures, with 
all equipment being calibrated before each test and all tests being performed. Thus, our 
investigation should be considered as a pilot study conducted at extreme altitude, with the 
conclusions only being applicable to healthy untrained adults. 
This study of ECG parameters and their concatenations with the help of new mathematical 
methods of analysis opens new opportunities for practical application of complex systems theory 
in order to reveal the changes during aerobic exercise.  
5. Conclusions 
In this research it was established that the functional parameters of the cardiovascular system 
depended on physical ability of the subjects. In the high aerobic power group, the body metabolism 
and regulatory systems (JT/QRS) and heart and body (RR/QRS) interaction was weaker, and the 
heart metabolism and regulatory systems (RR/JT) interaction was stronger than in other research 
groups (݌ < 0.05) during physical load. 
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Study on dynamical characteristics of electrocardiographic parameters during physical load

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