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Autonomic and psychological adaptations in Olympic rowers
F D Iellamo1, F Pigozzi, A Spataro
1Department of Internal Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Successful athletes preparing for the Olympic Games showed faster respiratory rates, while those not winning medals reported higher stress levels. This suggests monitoring psychosomatic symptoms can identify elite athletes and improve training programs.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis assesses neurovegetative adaptations to training.
- Autonomic cardiac regulation and psychophysical stress are critical for athletic success.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify indicators of autonomic cardiac regulation and stress to distinguish successful athletes.
- Evaluate the feasibility of remote, field-based assessment of autonomic cardiac regulation.
Main Methods:
- Studied male rowers (n=18) from the Italian national team before the 2004 Olympic Games.
- Collected RR interval data via transtelephonic-ECG in supine and standing positions.
- Utilized autoregressive HRV analysis and a stress/symptoms questionnaire (4S-Q).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in autonomic cardiac regulation markers between medalists and non-medalists.
- Medal winners exhibited faster respiratory rates (P=0.02).
- Non-medalists reported higher stress scores on the 4S-Q (F=5.55, P<0.022) mid-season and pre-Olympics.
Conclusions:
- Early detection of psychosomatic symptoms may identify athletes who handle high-stress training better.
- Quasi-on-line assessment of autonomic adaptations is feasible for optimizing individual training programs.
- Evaluating athletes in their natural environment can inform training adjustments.
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