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Physical training increases heart rate variability in healthy prepubertal children
S Mandigout1, A Melin, L Fauchier
1Laboratoire de la performance Motrice, Falculté du Sport et de l'Education Physique, Orléans, France.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|August 3, 2002
Summary
Endurance training improved aerobic capacity and cardiac function in healthy children. Nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) also showed positive changes without altering sympathetic or parasympathetic activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Physiology
- Cardiovascular Adaptation
- Autonomic Nervous System Function
Background:
- Assessing the impact of endurance training on heart rate variability (HRV) in prepubertal children.
- Investigating the relationship between HRV and cardiac adaptations post-training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of a 13-week endurance training program on HRV in healthy prepubertal children.
- To determine correlations between HRV metrics and cardiac adaptations induced by training.
Main Methods:
- 19 prepubertal children (10-11 years) participated; 12 in the training group, 7 as controls.
- Measurements included maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), 5-hour nocturnal ECG for HRV analysis (spectral and time domain), and Doppler-Echocardiography for cardiac assessment.
- Training involved 3 sessions/week at >80% HRmax for 13 weeks.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in VO2max (+15.5%) and left ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass.
- Improvements observed in absolute frequency domain HRV components and time domain components (N-N intervals, SDNN).
- Enhanced early diastolic LV filling, reduced late diastolic filling; no correlation found between cardiac and autonomic nervous system changes.
Conclusions:
- Endurance training positively impacts aerobic potential and cardiac structure/function in prepubertal children.
- No significant sympathetic or parasympathetic modifications were induced by the training program.
- Nocturnal global HRV demonstrated positive changes post-training.