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Published on: September 21, 2018
Pre-competitive overload period impairs parasympathetic modulation in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Henrique Monteiro Lapo1, Mara Patrícia Traina Chacon-Mikahil2, Amanda Veiga Sardeli3
1Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Scholl of Physical Education, University of Campinas SP, Brazil.
Objective:
The aim was to meta-analyze the effect of different type of overloads on parasympathetic modulation to the heart, assessed by root-mean-square difference of successive normal RR intervals (RMSSD) of athletes.
Methods:
The analysis of the 14 studies selected (20 subgroups within studies), compared RMSSD of the same athletes before and after an overload period.
Results:
RMSSD of athletes were lower at pre-competition compared to baseline (SMD = -0.50 [-0.83; -0.18], p = 0.002), while volume, volume plus intensity and post-competition overloads showed similar RMSSD than their respective normal load periods.
Conclusion:
The lower RMSSD during pre-competition overload, characterize an loss of homeostasis, and could be explained by the presence of pre-competition anxiety, stress, and higher psychological challenges in addition to the same physical stress present in the other types of overloads (i.e.: higher volume or training intensity).
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