Effect of asthma and six-months high-intensity interval training on heart rate variability during exercise in adolescents. Issue 19 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McNarry, M. A.; Lewis, M. J.; Wade, N.; Davies, G. A.; Winn, Con; Eddolls, W. T. B.; Stratton, G. S.; Mackintosh, K. A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 37:Issue 19(2019)
• Page Start: 2228
• Page End: 2235
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Heart rate variability (HRV) -- youth -- exercise -- non-linear -- children; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1626115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Little is known regarding the influence of asthma and exercise, and their interaction, on heart rate variability (HRV) in adolescents. Thirty-one adolescents with asthma (13.7±0.9 years; 21.9±3.9 kg·m −2 ; 19 boys, 12 girls) and thirty-three healthy adolescents (13.8±0.9 years; 20.3±3.2 kg·m −2 ; 16 boys, 17 girls) completed an incremental ramp test and three heavy-intensity constant-work-rate cycle tests. Thirteen adolescents (7 boys, 6 girls; 6 asthma, 7 control) completed six-months high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and were compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Standard time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear indices of HRV were derived at baseline, three- and six-months. Asthma did not influence HRV at baseline or following HIIT. Total power, low frequency and normalised low frequency power, and sympathovagal balance increased at three-months in HIIT, subsequently declining towards baseline at six-months. Normalised high frequency power was reduced at three-months in both groups, which was sustained at six-months. No effects of HIIT were observed in the time-domain nor in the non-linear indices. HRV was not influenced by asthma, potentially because such derangements are a function of disease progression, severity or duration. HIIT may be associated with a short-term shift towards greater sympathetic predominance during exercise, perhaps caused by physiological overload and fatigue.