Cardiac Parasympathetic and Anaerobic Performance Recovery After High-Intensity Exercise in Rowers

To determine the effect of different high-intensity interval-training (IT) sessions on the postexercise recovery response and time course across varying recovery measures.

A total of 13 highly trained rowers (10 male and 3 female, peak oxygen uptake during a 6-min maximal test 4.9 [0.7] L·min^-1) completed 3 IT sessions on a rowing ergometer separated by 7 d. Sessions consisted of 5 × 3.5 min, 4-min rest periods (maximal oxygen uptake [VO₂max]); 10 × 30 s, 5-min rest periods (glycolytic); and 5 × 10 min, 4-min rest periods (threshold). Participants were instructed to perform intervals at the highest maintainable pace. Blood lactate and salivary cortisol were measured preexercise and postexercise. Resting heart-rate (HR) variability, post-submaximal-exercise HR variability, submaximal-exercise HR, HR recovery, and modified Wingate peak and mean power were measured preexercise and 1, 10, 24, 34, 48, 58, and 72 h postexercise. Participants resumed training throughout the measurement period.

Between-groups short-term response differences (1 h post-IT) across IT sessions were trivial or unclear for all recovery variables. However, post-submaximal-exercise HR variability demonstrated the longest recovery time course (threshold = 37.8 [14.2], glycolytic = 20.2 [11.0], and VO₂max = 20.6 [15.2]; mean [h] ± confidence limits).

Short-term responses to threshold, glycolytic, and VO₂max IT in highly trained male and female rowers were similar. Recovery time course was greatest following threshold compared with glycolytic and VO₂max-focused training, suggesting a durational influence on recovery time course at HR intensities ≥80% HR_max. As such, this provides valuable information around the programming and sequencing of high-intensity IT for endurance athletes.