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Reliability of heart rate variability threshold and parasympathetic reactivation after a submaximal exercise test

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate reproducibility of heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) and parasympathetic reactivation in physically active men (n= 16, 24.3 ± 5.1 years). During the test, HRVT was assessed by SD1 and r-MSSD dynamics. Immediately after exercise, r-MSSD was analyzed in segments of 60 seconds for a period of five minutes. High absolute and relatively reproducible analysis of HRVT were observed, as assessed by SD1 and r-MSSD dynamics (ICC = 0.92, CV = 10.8, SEM = 5.8). During the recovery phase, a moderate to high reproducibility was observed for r-MSSD from the first to the fifth minute (ICC = 0.69-0.95, CV = 7.5-14.2, SEM = 0.07-1.35). We conclude that HRVT and r-MSSD analysis after a submaximal stress test are highly reproducible measures that might be used to assess the acute and chronic effects of exercise training on cardiac autonomic modulation during and/or after a submaximal stress test.

Keywords
reproducibility; anaerobic threshold; heart rate variability; vagal reactivation

Introduction

Assessment of cardiac autonomic nervous system modulation during an incremental stress test or during the recovery phase has been considered a promising strategy for risk stratification and exercise prescription for different populations11 Cole CR, Blackstone EH, Pashkow FJ, Snader CE, Lauer MS. Heart-rate recovery immediately after exercise as a predictor of mortality. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(18):1351-1357. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199910283411804
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199910283411...
,22 Cole CR, Foody JM, Blackstone EH, Lauer MS. Heart rate recovery after submaximal exercise testing as a predictor of mortality in a cardiovascularly healthy cohort. ‎Ann. Intern. Med. 2000;132(7):552-555. doi: 200004040-00007
https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-132-7-...
,33 Karapetian GK, Engels HJ, Gretebeck KA, Gretebeck RJ. Effect of caffeine on LT, VT and HRVT. Int J Sports Med.2012;33(7):507-513. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1301904
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1301904...
,44 Karapetian GK, Engels HJ, Gretebeck RJ. Use of heart rate variability to estimate LT and VT. Int J Sports Med.2008;29(8):652-657. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-989423
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-989423...
,55 Mourot L, Tordi N, Bouhaddi M, Teffaha D, Monpere C, Regnard J. Heart rate variability to assess ventilatory thresholds: reliable in cardiac disease? Eur J PrevCardiol. 2012;19(6): 1272-1280. doi: 10.1177/1741826711423115
https://doi.org/10.1177/1741826711423115...
. As established, during exercise there is reciprocity in heart rate modulation between sympathetic hyperactivity and parasympathetic inhibition66 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Seppanen T, Laukkanen RT, Huikuri HV. Vagal modulation of heart rate during exercise: effects of age and physical fitness. Am. J. Physiol.1998;274:H424-429.,77 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppanen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. Am. J. Physiol.1996;271: H244-252.,88 White DW, Raven PB. Autonomic neural control of heart rate during dynamic exercise: revisited. ‎J. Physiol.2014;592(12):2491-2500.doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.271858
https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2014.27...
; short-term, post-exercise cardiovascular adaptation is associated with a simultaneous rapid increase in parasympathetic and decrease in sympathetic activity99 Goldberger JJ, Le FK, Lahiri M, Kannankeril PJ, Ng J, Kadish AH. Assessment of parasympathetic reactivation after exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.2006;290(6): H2446-2452. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2005
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2...
,1010 Imai K, Sato H, Hori M, Kusuoka H, Ozaki H, Yokoyama H, et al. Vagally mediated heart rate recovery after exercise is accelerated in athletes but blunted in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol.1994;24(6): 1529-1535.

Time-domain analysis and Poincaré method plotting of spontaneous heart rate variability (HRV) based on an R-R interval (i-RR) series is a feasible, non-invasive tool for evaluating cardiac autonomic modulation in different functional conditions77 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppanen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. Am. J. Physiol.1996;271: H244-252.,1010 Imai K, Sato H, Hori M, Kusuoka H, Ozaki H, Yokoyama H, et al. Vagally mediated heart rate recovery after exercise is accelerated in athletes but blunted in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol.1994;24(6): 1529-1535. These allow an indirect inference about cardiac autonomic nervous system control on the sinus node66 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Seppanen T, Laukkanen RT, Huikuri HV. Vagal modulation of heart rate during exercise: effects of age and physical fitness. Am. J. Physiol.1998;274:H424-429.,77 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppanen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. Am. J. Physiol.1996;271: H244-252.,99 Goldberger JJ, Le FK, Lahiri M, Kannankeril PJ, Ng J, Kadish AH. Assessment of parasympathetic reactivation after exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.2006;290(6): H2446-2452. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2005
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2...
.

During incremental stress tests, an exponential reduction in the root mean square of successive differences between the adjacent normal R-R intervals (r-MSSD, temporal index) and the standard deviation of instantaneous beat-to-beat variability (SD1, Poincaré index) are expected consequences of reduced parasympathetic activity. The point where the values in these two parasympathetic indices are stabilized is called the heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) and is considered an indicator of parasympathetic deactivation during an incremental exercise test66 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Seppanen T, Laukkanen RT, Huikuri HV. Vagal modulation of heart rate during exercise: effects of age and physical fitness. Am. J. Physiol.1998;274:H424-429.,77 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppanen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. Am. J. Physiol.1996;271: H244-252.,1111 Gomes CJ, Molina GE. Utilização da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca para a identificação do limiar anaeróbio. Uma revisão sistemática. Journal of Physical Education/UEM.2014;25(4): 675-683. doi: 10.4025/reveducfis.v25i4.22495
https://doi.org/10.4025/reveducfis.v25i4...
.

Recent publications demonstrated that HRVT coincided with the first ventilator threshold and lactate threshold, suggesting that HRVT might be a practical and attractive alternative to identify adequate workload for exercise prescription44 Karapetian GK, Engels HJ, Gretebeck RJ. Use of heart rate variability to estimate LT and VT. Int J Sports Med.2008;29(8):652-657. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-989423
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-989423...
,1212 Sales MM, Campbell CS, Morais PK, Ernesto C, Soares-Caldeira LF, Russo P, et al. Noninvasive method to estimate anaerobic threshold in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetol Metab Syndr.2011;3(1): 1. doi: 10.1186/1758-5996-3-1
https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-5996-3-1...
,1313 Vasconcellos F, Seabra A, Montenegro R, Cunha F, Bouskela E, Farinatti P. Can heart rate variability be used to estimate gas exchange threshold in obese adolescents? Am. J. Sports Med.2015;36(8):654-660.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654...
. Conversely, analysis of vagal activity immediately post-exercise has been considered a complementary alternative for monitoring training status and control of internal load1414 Buchheit M, Laursen PB, Ahmaidi S. Parasympathetic reactivation after repeated sprint exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.2007;293(1):H133-141. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00062.2007
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00062.2...
,1515 Mourot L, Bouhaddi M, Perrey S, Rouillon JD, Regnard J. Quantitative Poincare plot analysis of heart rate variability: effect of endurance training. Eur J ApplPhysiol.2004;91(1): 79-87. doi: 10.1007/s00421-003-0917-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0917-...
,1616 Plews DJ, Laursen PB, Stanley J, Kilding AE, Buchheit M. Training adaptation and heart rate variability in elite endurance athletes: opening the door to effective monitoring. Sports Med.2013;43(9):773-781. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0071-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0071-...
.

Therefore, considering the clinical and functional implication of vagal assessment during physical stress and its recovery, previous studies have assessed the validity of HRV indexes to represent vagal activity under these conditions77 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppanen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. Am. J. Physiol.1996;271: H244-252.,99 Goldberger JJ, Le FK, Lahiri M, Kannankeril PJ, Ng J, Kadish AH. Assessment of parasympathetic reactivation after exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.2006;290(6): H2446-2452. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2005
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2...
. However, the reproducibility of HRV analysis in the exercise test (HRVT) and in the recovery phase are not fully established.

Considering thatboth HRVT and parasympathetic reactivation are autonomic phenomena assessed in non-stationary conditions, is essential to evaluate theirreproducibility during exercise test and its recovery period, since a poor reproducibility may lead to erroneous inference about the subject’s physiological status. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of HRVT and parasympathetic reactivation immediately after a submaximal stress test in young, physically active men.

Methods

Participants

We evaluated 16 healthy, physically active, male non-athlete subjects, aged 24.3 ± 5.1 years (range: 20-32 years), with body mass index (BMI) of 25.1 ± 3.7 kg/m2 (range: 22.8-29.7 kg/m2). They underwent exercise testing during the afternoon, between 2:00 and 5:00 pm, and had previously been instructed to abstain from stimulants, alcoholic beverages, medicines, and physical activity for at least 48 h prior. The volunteers were oriented to the experimental protocol before the beginning of the tests, and all signed an informed consent to participate, with the approval of the Ethical Committee on Human Research of the UNIEURO University Center in compliance with the Brazilian National Research Ethics System Guidelines and Declarations of Helsinki.

First, we obtained anthropometrical, clinical and basic physiological data, and information on lifestyle, habits, and physical activity level using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)1717 Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjostrom M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, et al. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;35(8):1381-1395.doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.000007892...
.

The basic physiological data, blood pressure and HR (HRbaseline) were measured after 10 minutes in the supine position according to a protocol standardized in our laboratory1818 Molina GE, Porto LG, Fontana KE, Junqueira LF Jr. Unaltered R-R interval variability and bradycardia in cyclists as compared with non-athletes. ClinAuton Res.2013;23(3):141-148. doi: 10.1007/s10286-013-0196-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-013-0196-...
.All measures were performed in a quiet, clinical laboratory room at controlled ambient temperature (21-24ºC).

The incremental exercise test on the treadmill was applied immediately after the basic physiological data assessment. The experimental design consisted of three visits to our laboratory at intervals between 48 and 72 hours; at each visit the participants were subjected to a standardized exercise test.

Heart rate variability analysis

The R-R interval series was obtained by the model RS800CX Polar cardiac monitor® at a sampling frequency of 1,000 HZ1919 Quintana DS, Heathers JA, Kemp AH. On the validity of using the Polar RS800 heart rate monitor for heart rate variability research. Eur J ApplPhysiol. 2012;112(12):4179-4180. doi: 10.1007/s00421-012-2453-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2453-...
,2020 Wallen MB, Hasson D, Theorell T, Canlon B, Osika W. Possibilities and limitations of the Polar RS800 in measuring heart rate variability at rest. Eur J ApplPhysiol.2012;112(3):1153-1165. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-2079-9
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2079-...
. Then, each series was transferred to a microcomputer for offline data processing and analysis of R-R interval variability, employing a Kubios HRV analyzer (Matlab TM version 2.0 beta, Kuopio, Finland). Before processing the HRV data, all R-R interval series were visually verified on a beat-to-beat basis to validate sinus rhythm and identify ectopic beats, artifacts, and signal reliability. When present, spurious beats were deleted from the series with their previous and following intervals, without adding new intervals.

The time-domain index measured was the root mean square of successive differences between the adjacent normal R-R intervals (r-MSSD). The Poincaré plot was measured as the instantaneous beat-to-beat variability of the date (SD1). Both measures reflect the cardiac parasympathetic modulation.

Exercise test and recovery

A submaximal incremental exercise test on a treadmill (Centurion, Micromed) was conducted. The test protocol included a two-minute preliminary warm-up period at a constant 3.0 km/h and 2.5% slope for adaptation. Immediately after the warm-up, the effective exercise test protocol was started at an initial velocity of 3.0 km/h, which was increased by 1.0 km/h each minute until the volunteer reached 85% of his maximum heart rate (HRmax), predicted by the formula HRmax = 208-(0.7 × age)2121 Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR. Age-predicted maximal heart rate revisited. J Am CollCardiol.2001;37(1):153-156. doi: S0735-1097(00)01054-8 [pii]
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(00)01...
. The incline of the treadmill was set at 2.5% throughout the test.

After achieving 85% of HRmax (HRpeak), the exercise protocol was interrupted and an active 5-minute recovery phase was immediately started, with the speed of treadmill reduced to 2.4 km/h but keeping the incline at 2.5% 11 Cole CR, Blackstone EH, Pashkow FJ, Snader CE, Lauer MS. Heart-rate recovery immediately after exercise as a predictor of mortality. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(18):1351-1357. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199910283411804
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199910283411...
.

Determination of heart rate variability threshold and parasympathetic reactivation

Before HRVT determination, artifacts were removed by visual inspection when necessary (<3%).We adopted this analysis because <3% is within the standards commonly used in the literature to proceed this analysis2222 Peltola MA. Role of editing of R-R intervals in the analysis of heart rate variability. Front Physiol.2012;3:148-158. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00148
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2012.00148...
.

The 60 seconds of i-RR analysis in each stage were performed using the Kubios HRV analyzer software previously mentioned. HRVT was considered the load (m/min) corresponding to the point of stabilization at which there was no further significant decline in the values of the r-MSSD (HRVTr-MSSD) and SD1 (HRVTSD1) variables during the incremental test by means of visual graphic evaluation1313 Vasconcellos F, Seabra A, Montenegro R, Cunha F, Bouskela E, Farinatti P. Can heart rate variability be used to estimate gas exchange threshold in obese adolescents? Am. J. Sports Med.2015;36(8):654-660.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654...
,2323 Candido N, Okuno NM, da Silva CC, Machado FA, Nakamura FY. Reliability of the Heart Rate Variability Threshold using Visual Inspection and Dmax Methods. Int J Sports Med. 2015. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1554642
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1554642...
. The HRVT analysis was performed by two independent evaluators with considerable experience in this analysis, and in case of disagreement between them, a third evaluator would be consulted to examine the graph. All data were analyzed by consensus between the two evaluators; thus, the third evaluator was not necessary.

Heart rate variability after submaximal exercise test

While a progressive increase in the R-R interval was generally observed during initial recovery, the r-MSSD index was calculated each minute for five minutes after exercise cessation using time-varying analysis99 Goldberger JJ, Le FK, Lahiri M, Kannankeril PJ, Ng J, Kadish AH. Assessment of parasympathetic reactivation after exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.2006;290(6): H2446-2452. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2005
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.01118.2...
. The r-MSSD is widely used to analyze the parasympathetic reactivation after maximal and submaximal exercise2424 Al Haddad H, Mendez-Villanueva A, Bourdon PC, Buchheit M. Effect of acute hypoxia on post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation in healthy men. Front Physiol.2012;3: 289. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00289
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2012.00289...
,2525 Buchheit M, Al Haddad H, Laursen PB, Ahmaidi S. Effect of body posture on postexercise parasympathetic reactivation in men. ‎Exp. Physiol.2009;94(7): 795-804. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048041
https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2009....
,2626 Dupuy O, Mekary S, Berryman N, Bherer L, Audiffren M, Bosquet L. Reliability of heart rate measures used to assess post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging.2012;32(4):296-304. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2012.01125.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-097X.2012...
,2727 Seiler S, Haugen O, Kuffel E. Autonomic recovery after exercise in trained athletes: intensity and duration effects. MedSci Sports Exerc.2007;39(8): 1366-1373. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318060f17d
https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e318060...
.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSS v20 (SPSS Inc., USA). Data normality was examined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Post-exercise r-MSSD was transformed by taking the natural logarithm to allow parametric statistical comparisons that assume a normal distribution. Comparison between the three trials was made using ANOVA for repeated measures, and differences were identified by a Bonferroni post-hoc test. Comparisons were analyzed considering sphericity correction by a Green-House test. Relative reliability was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) (two-way mixed), and absolute reliability was assessed with the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the intra-subject coefficient of variation (CV). CV is a measure of discrepancy and is expressed as a percentage of the mean (CV= standard deviation/mean × 100). SEM quantifies the precision of individual scores on a test and was calculated as follows2828 Weir JP. Quantifying test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the SEM. JSCR.2005;19(1): 231-240. doi: 10.1519/15184.1
https://doi.org/10.1519/15184.1...
:

Results

Considering the hemodynamic variables evaluated at rest condition, no significant differences were observed between the three trials (p = 0.30-0.62, Table 1).

Similarly, no differences were observed in HRVT, as evaluated by SD1 (p = 0.86) and r-MSSD (p = 0.86). Additionally, all parasympathetic reactivation measures during recovery (r-MSSD1 to r-MSSD5) were similar between the three tests (p= 0.21-0.94, Table 2).

Table 1
The mean and standard deviation of resting hemodynamics variables assessed on three occasions.

Table 2
The mean and standard deviation of heart rate variability threshold and post-exercise r-MSSD analysis assessed on three occasions.

ANOVA for repeated measures. HRVTSD1: heart rate variability threshold evaluated by SD1; HRVTr-MSSD: heart rate variability threshold evaluated by r-MSSD; r-MSSD1 to r-MSSD5: r-MSSD analysis from first to fifth minute of recovery.

As shown in Table 3, higher relative and absolute reproducibility were observed in HRVTSD1 (ICC = 0.92, CV = 10.8, SEM = 5.8) and HRVTr-MSSD (ICC = 0.92, CV = 10.8, SEM = 5.8). Similar absolute and relative reproducibility observed in HRVTSD1 and HRVTr-MSSD can be explained by the physiological nature of the markers, both representing parasympathetic activity, which results in a similar kinetic during an incremental stress test (Figure 1).

Table 3
Absolute and relative reproducibility of heart rate variability threshold and post-exercise r-MSSD analysis.

Figure 1
Heart rate variability dynamics during a submaximal exercise test.

Higher ICC values were also observed in r-MSSD from minutes1-4 in the recovery phase (ICC > 0.87, CV < 14.7, SEM < 0.37). In the fifth minute of recovery, the ICC values were somewhat lower, whereas SEM values were higher (ICC = 0.69, CV = 7.5, SEM = 1.05).

Discussion

The major finding of this study is the higher relative and absolute reliability observed in HRVTSD1 and HRVTr-MSSD measurements identified by visual inspection. Additionally, the analysis of r-MSSD in the initial phase of recovery (5 minutes) also showed moderate to high reproducibility.

HRVT is a valid indicator of parasympathetic withdrawal during exercise66 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Seppanen T, Laukkanen RT, Huikuri HV. Vagal modulation of heart rate during exercise: effects of age and physical fitness. Am. J. Physiol.1998;274:H424-429.,77 Tulppo MP, Makikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppanen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. Am. J. Physiol.1996;271: H244-252.. An increasing amount of evidence shows that the HRVT point coincides with the ventilatory and lactate threshold44 Karapetian GK, Engels HJ, Gretebeck RJ. Use of heart rate variability to estimate LT and VT. Int J Sports Med.2008;29(8):652-657. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-989423
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-989423...
,1111 Gomes CJ, Molina GE. Utilização da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca para a identificação do limiar anaeróbio. Uma revisão sistemática. Journal of Physical Education/UEM.2014;25(4): 675-683. doi: 10.4025/reveducfis.v25i4.22495
https://doi.org/10.4025/reveducfis.v25i4...
,1212 Sales MM, Campbell CS, Morais PK, Ernesto C, Soares-Caldeira LF, Russo P, et al. Noninvasive method to estimate anaerobic threshold in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetol Metab Syndr.2011;3(1): 1. doi: 10.1186/1758-5996-3-1
https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-5996-3-1...
,1313 Vasconcellos F, Seabra A, Montenegro R, Cunha F, Bouskela E, Farinatti P. Can heart rate variability be used to estimate gas exchange threshold in obese adolescents? Am. J. Sports Med.2015;36(8):654-660.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654...
, which are considered simple and practical measures for estimating the aerobic/anaerobic transition. Therefore, our results suggest that, beyond being a valid indicator of parasympathetic withdrawal, HRVT is a reproducible measure in a submaximal exercise test.

Relative reliability is the degree to which individuals maintain their position in a sample with repeated measurements, and it was considered very high when ICC was higher than 0.90, high at 0.70-0.89 and moderate at 0.50-0.69. The results were considered unreliable when ICC was lower than 0.50. Corroborating our findings, Candidoet al.2323 Candido N, Okuno NM, da Silva CC, Machado FA, Nakamura FY. Reliability of the Heart Rate Variability Threshold using Visual Inspection and Dmax Methods. Int J Sports Med. 2015. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1554642
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1554642...
found very high relative reproducibility for analysis of HRVT analyzed by visual inspection of SD1 (ICC = 0.81) and r-MSSD (ICC = 0.81) dynamics in six incremental tests on a cycle simulator. Dourado and Guerra2929 Dourado VZ, Guerra RL. Reliability and validity of heart rate variability threshold assessment during an incremental shuttle-walk test in middle-aged and older adults. ‎Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res.2013;46(2):194-199. doi: 10.1590/1414-431X20122376
https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2012237...
also observed excellent relative reliability of HRVT during the incremental shuttle-walk test in healthy subjects (ICC= 0.92).

However, to our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the reproducibility of HRVT measure in an incremental submaximal exercise test on a treadmill in healthy male subjects. Although the reliability of the measure has been tested in previous studies, it needs to be tested in different protocols and populations for more comprehensive understanding and for practical applications2323 Candido N, Okuno NM, da Silva CC, Machado FA, Nakamura FY. Reliability of the Heart Rate Variability Threshold using Visual Inspection and Dmax Methods. Int J Sports Med. 2015. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1554642
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1554642...
,2929 Dourado VZ, Guerra RL. Reliability and validity of heart rate variability threshold assessment during an incremental shuttle-walk test in middle-aged and older adults. ‎Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res.2013;46(2):194-199. doi: 10.1590/1414-431X20122376
https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2012237...
.

Absolute reliability represents the degree to which repeated measurements vary for individuals2828 Weir JP. Quantifying test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the SEM. JSCR.2005;19(1): 231-240. doi: 10.1519/15184.1
https://doi.org/10.1519/15184.1...
. Good absolute reliability was also observed in HRVT and in post-exercise r-MSSD analysis. The CV and SEM of HRVTSD1 and HRVTr-MSSD indicate low variation of these markers, occurring with a magnitude inferior to the load increment for each stage (16.6 m/min). Similar results are observed by Candidoet al.2323 Candido N, Okuno NM, da Silva CC, Machado FA, Nakamura FY. Reliability of the Heart Rate Variability Threshold using Visual Inspection and Dmax Methods. Int J Sports Med. 2015. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1554642
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1554642...
, who found CV values ranged from 11.4 to 13.1% for HRVTSD1 and HRVTr-MSSD, respectively, values slightly higher than those found in this study (CV= 10.8% for HRVTr-MSSD and HRVTSD1).

In practical terms, when small variations in HRVT are observed in different tests, an interval not greater than 16.6 m/min (1 km/h) should be considered when evaluating the training effects of this variable. For example, an increase of 1 km/h in HRVT occurrence after an exercise training program can be the result of random error and not an adaptation to the training program. Additionally, in a protocol adopted in this study, HRVT measured by SD1 and r-MSSD were observed in similar effort intensities in most cases.

Immediately after a stress test (5 min), good relative and absolute reproducibility were observed in r-MSSD values obtained in 60-second segments during active recovery, especially in the first four minutes of the recovery phase. Dupuyet al.2626 Dupuy O, Mekary S, Berryman N, Bherer L, Audiffren M, Bosquet L. Reliability of heart rate measures used to assess post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging.2012;32(4):296-304. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2012.01125.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-097X.2012...
observed a larger range in ICC for HRV analysis after a maximal and submaximal exercise test; however, after the submaximal protocol, moderate relative reliability was identified for r-MSSD (ICC= 0.70). The greater reliability found in our study may be explained by methodological differences, such as the length of the R-R interval segment analyzed, the stress test protocol and especially the recovery phase mode.

Analysis of parasympathetic withdrawal and reactivation has been used to monitor acute1414 Buchheit M, Laursen PB, Ahmaidi S. Parasympathetic reactivation after repeated sprint exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.2007;293(1):H133-141. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00062.2007
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00062.2...
,2525 Buchheit M, Al Haddad H, Laursen PB, Ahmaidi S. Effect of body posture on postexercise parasympathetic reactivation in men. ‎Exp. Physiol.2009;94(7): 795-804. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048041
https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2009....
,3030 Araújo JA, Tricot GK, Arsa G, Queiroz MG, Santos KM, Dias ARL, et al. Blood pressure and cardiac autonomic modulation at rest, during exercise and recovery time in the young overweight. Motriz. 2016;22(1):27-34.doi: 10.1590/S1980-65742016000100004
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-6574201600...
and chronic3131 Buchheit M, Millet GP, Parisy A, Pourchez S, Laursen PB, Ahmaidi S. Supramaximal training and postexercise parasympathetic reactivation in adolescents. MedSci Sports Exerc.2008;40(2):362-371. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e31815aa2ee
https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e31815a...
,3232 Duarte A, Soares PP, Pescatello L, Farinatti P. Aerobic training improves vagal reactivation regardless of resting vagal control. MedSci Sports Exerc.2015;47(6): 1159-1167. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000532
https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.000000000000...
,3333 Nakamura FY, Aguiar CA, Fronchetti L, Aguiar AF, Lima JRP. Alteração do limiar de variabilidade da frequência cardíaca após treinamento aeróbio de curto prazo. Motriz.2005;11(1): 01-09. doi: 10.5016/291
https://doi.org/10.5016/291...
adaptations induced by physical training on cardiac autonomic function. Our findings suggest that HRVT and short analysis of r-MSSD (i.e., 60s) during active recovery on a treadmill can be a good and reliable methods for assessing vagal dynamics during and after exercise.

The main limitation of this study is the small sample size; however, the consistency and magnitude of the observed results minimize this limitation. Another relative limitation that should be addressed is the absence of ventilatory and/or lactate threshold assessment during the incremental stress test. However, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of HRVT and r-MSSD analysis immediately after a submaximal stress test and not the validity of these tools, which has been tested in previous work44 Karapetian GK, Engels HJ, Gretebeck RJ. Use of heart rate variability to estimate LT and VT. Int J Sports Med.2008;29(8):652-657. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-989423
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-989423...
,1111 Gomes CJ, Molina GE. Utilização da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca para a identificação do limiar anaeróbio. Uma revisão sistemática. Journal of Physical Education/UEM.2014;25(4): 675-683. doi: 10.4025/reveducfis.v25i4.22495
https://doi.org/10.4025/reveducfis.v25i4...
,1313 Vasconcellos F, Seabra A, Montenegro R, Cunha F, Bouskela E, Farinatti P. Can heart rate variability be used to estimate gas exchange threshold in obese adolescents? Am. J. Sports Med.2015;36(8):654-660.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1398654...
.

Another important observation is the wide variation in BMI in the sample studied, which divides the sample in normal weight and overweight men. However, while body fat can influence the HRV analysis3434 Dietrich DF, Ackermann-Liebrich U, Schindler C, Barthelemy JC, Brandli O, Gold DR, et al. Effect of physical activity on heart rate variability in normal weight, overweight and obese subjects: results from the SAPALDIA study. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;104 (3): 557-565. doi: 10.1007/s00421-008-0800-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0800-...
, all volunteers adopted in the research are involved in aerobic and resistance training, which stimulates muscle hypertrophy and limits the use of BMI as an indicator of body fatness, particularly when BMI values are below 30 3535 Okorodudu DO, Jumean MF, Montori VM, Romero-Corral A, Somers VK, Erwin PJ, Lopez-Jimenez F. Diagnostic performance of body mass index to identify obesity as defined by body adiposity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes.2010;34 (1): 791-799. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2010.5
https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.5...
. Additionally, physical activity appears to offset the negative effect of obesity on HRV3434 Dietrich DF, Ackermann-Liebrich U, Schindler C, Barthelemy JC, Brandli O, Gold DR, et al. Effect of physical activity on heart rate variability in normal weight, overweight and obese subjects: results from the SAPALDIA study. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;104 (3): 557-565. doi: 10.1007/s00421-008-0800-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0800-...
.

Conclusion

We concluded that HRVT, analyzed by visual inspection during an incremental submaximal treadmill stress test, and r-MSSD analysis during recovery are highly reproducible measures. Our results suggest that these indices might be useful tools for assessing the acute and chronic effects of exercise training on cardiac autonomic modulation and practical parameters for exercise prescription.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Mar 2017

History

  • Received
    27 June 2016
  • Accepted
    28 Sept 2016
Universidade Estadual Paulista Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP/Brasil, Tel.: (55 19) 3526-4330 - Rio Claro - SP - Brazil
E-mail: motriz.rc@unesp.br