Effects of a competitive season on autonomic heart rate modulation in field soccer athletes

João Marcelo de Queiroz Miranda, Roberta Luksevicius Rica, Welmo Alacantara Barbosa, Adriano Fortes Maia, Marco Bergamin, Vitor Engracia Valenti, Julien Steven Baker, Guilherme Lemos Shimojo, Jonato Prestes, Whitley J. Stone, Danilo S. Bocalini, Rogerio Brandao Wichi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The physical demands of soccer combined with the rigor of the competitive season may have a substantial impact on autonomic modulation in field soccer athletes. The number of sudden death cases associated with soccer may be related to the physical training required to maintain performance and fitness, minimal time for recovery, and recurrent game participation. It is possible to identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular events by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), which is an indirect method for assessing autonomic activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze HRV before and after a period of field soccer competition. We evaluated 17 healthy male professional field soccer athletes and 12 untrained controls. The HRV was analyzed during supine rest before and after a period of field soccer competition. The following parameters were evaluated: interval R wave variation (RR), standard deviation of normal–normal intervals (SDNN), Root-mean-square successive difference (RMSSD), low frequency component (LF), high-frequency component (HF) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF). Results indicated that the RR (p<.05, ES: 2.77), SDNN (p<.05, ES: 1.70), LF (p<.05, ES: 1.86), HF p<.05, ES: 0.89) and LF/HF p<.05, ES: 0.89) all decreased after the competition in the professional athletes with no change observed in the control group. In conclusion, the data suggest that a soccer competition negatively influences the autonomic regulation of heart rate.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1198-1205
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Journal of Exercise Science
Volume12
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2019

Keywords

  • Heart rate variability
  • Cardiovascular system
  • Football athletes
  • Competition

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of a competitive season on autonomic heart rate modulation in field soccer athletes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this