Acute and training induced cardiopulmonary responses in short-, middle-, and long-distance female runners

This study aimed to examine the acute and chronic effects of a standard race load and an eight-week training period on heart rate and respiratory function parameters in short-, middle-, and long-distance runners.

The study was designed as a quasi-experimental study with a repeated-measures design. The research group consisted of short-distance (n = 11), middle-distance (n = 13), and long-distance (n = 10) female runners who were actively engaged in athletics. Resting, post-race, and recovery heart rate values (1 and 15 min post-exercise) were measured. Respiratory function parameters (FVC, FEV1, and PEF) were assessed before and immediately after exercise. Measurements were conducted at baseline and repeated after an eight-week training period. A mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA was used to examine the effects of group, time, and period on physiological variables.

Resting heart rate values were similar in short- and middle-distance runners, whereas long-distance runners exhibited lower values. Heart rate responses during post-race and recovery periods differed across disciplines, with short-distance runners showing a faster decline in the early recovery phase and long-distance runners reaching lower levels during the later recovery stage. Regarding respiratory function, post-exercise increases in FVC were observed in short- and middle-distance runners during the second measurement period, while FEV1 remained unchanged. PEF values increased only in short-distance runners during the same period. The eight-week training period did not significantly affect heart rate, and a significant increase was observed in FVC, whereas FEV1 remained unchanged. Recovery patterns also differed between disciplines, with short-distance runners showing a faster decline in heart rate during the early recovery phase, whereas long distance runners reached lower heart rate values during the later stages of recovery. These findings indicate that the changes observed following an 8-week period differ across running disciplines and exhibit a discipline-specific pattern.

Not applicable, as this study is not a clinical trial.