Confounding Variables Influence Utility Of Heart Rate Measures In Collegiate Athletes

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

San Francisco, CA

Date of Presentation

5-30-2020

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000686784.50996.a5

Volume

52

Issue

7S

First Page

1029

Abstract

Heart rate is easy to measure and a useful variable for determining training intensity, training status and fitness levels. The downward rate of the heart following a standardized stressor (heart rate recovery; HRR) and resting heart rate (RHR) are autonomically-mediated and can be used to detect training distress. However, confounding variables can limit the usefulness of heart rate when criteria for rate changes are not individualized, especially when applied to entire sporting teams. PURPOSE: To determine influences of sex, training status, player position and season duration have on the RHR and the HRR response following a standardized physical stressor. METHODS: Subjects were male (n=17) and female (n=26) collegiate soccer players aged 17 to 22 years. RHR (taken in the morning just after awaking) and the HRR following a 300-yard shuttle run and maximal treadmill test were collected four times during one entire season: Beginning of August (pre-season), September (mid-season), October (mid-season), and end of November (post-season). Polar monitors were used to record heart rate. RESULTS: A comparison between shuttle run times showed men had faster times (p<0.001) and higher VO2 max (p<0.05) than women. Shuttle run performance and athlete’s class standing were not found to be significantly different but trended towards significance (p=0.052). HRR examined by sex found that men had a faster HRR time than women (p=0.010). A multivariate analysis examining RHR and player position found that there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.015): The forward players had higher RHR compared to defenders (p=0.051) and midfielders (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: Player fitness, sex, position and year in school should be considered when establishing guidelines for using heart rate information.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS