COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ATHLETES' AUTONOMIC REACTIVITY BY HRV INDICATORS IN FUNCTIONAL TESTS OF VARIOUS DIRECTIONS

Area of Science:

• Sports Physiology
• Autonomic Nervous System Function
• Cardiovascular Regulation

Background:

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a key indicator of autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation.
• Elite athletes undergo rigorous training, necessitating understanding their physiological responses to stress.
• Comparative analysis of HRV during different functional tests provides insights into adaptive mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively evaluate changes in HRV indicators during functional tests in elite athletes.
• To understand the relationship between HRV changes and different types of stress factors, intensity, and duration.
• To analyze the impact of orthostatic and treadmill tests on autonomic regulation in athletes.

Main Methods:

• Studied 50 elite athletes (athletics, wrestling, judo, football) aged 20-26.
• Utilized the "Varikard 2.5.1, Iskim - 6.2" hardware-software complex for HRV recording.
• Performed orthostatic tests (supine to standing) and a graded treadmill test to exhaustion, recording HRV at rest and post-test.

Main Results:

• Time domain HRV indicators (HR, MxDMn, SI) showed unidirectional changes reflecting sympathetic activation in both tests, with greater shifts during the treadmill test.
• Spectral HRV indicators varied differently: orthotest showed increased LF (vasomotor center) and decreased HF (parasympathetic activity), while the treadmill test indicated a significant decrease in total power (TP) and all spectral components, suggesting an energy-deficient state.
• Correlation analysis highlighted balanced ANS at rest, increased sympathetic activity and regulation centralization in orthotest, and autonomic dysregulation during the treadmill test.

Conclusions:

• HRV responses differ significantly between orthostatic and treadmill functional tests in elite athletes.
• The treadmill test elicits a more pronounced sympathetic response and potential energy deficit compared to the orthostatic test.
• Understanding these distinct HRV patterns is crucial for optimizing training and recovery strategies in elite athletes.