Second Ventilatory Threshold Assessed by Heart Rate Variability in a Multiple Shuttle Run Test

Abstract

Many studies have focused on heart rate variability in association with ventilatory thresholds. The purpose of the current study was to consider the ECG-derived respiration and the high frequency product of heart rate variability as applicable methods to assess the second ventilatory threshold (VT₂). Fifteen healthy young soccer players participated in the study. Respiratory gases and ECGs were collected during an incremental laboratory test and in a multistage shuttle run test until exhaustion. VΤ₂ was individually calculated using the deflection point of ventilatory equivalents. In addition, VT₂ was assessed both by the deflection point of ECG-derived respiration and high frequency product. Results showed no statistically significant differences between VT₂, and the threshold as determined with high frequency product and ECG-derived respiration (F(2,28)=0.83, p=0.45, η²=0.05). A significant intraclass correlation was observed for ECG-derived respiration (r=0.94) and high frequency product (r=0.95) with VT₂. Similarly, Bland Altman analysis showed a considerable agreement between VT₂ vs. ECG-derived respiration (mean difference of −0.06 km·h⁻¹, 95% CL: ±0.40) and VT₂ vs. high frequency product (mean difference of 0.02 km·h⁻¹, 95% CL: ±0.38). This study suggests that, high frequency product and ECG-derived respiration are indeed reliable heart rate variability indices determining VT₂ in a field shuttle run test

Key words

anaerobic threshold - exercise - sympathetic - parasympathetic - autonomic nervous system - heart rate

Publication History

Received: 19 November 2019

Accepted: 30 June 2020

Article published online:
07 August 2020

• References

• 1 Reinhard U, Muller PH, Schmulling RM. Determination of anaerobic threshold by the ventilation equivalent in normal individuals. Respiration 1979; 38: 36-42
• 2 Beaver WL, Wasserman K, Whipp BJ. A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1986: 2020-2027
• 3 Skinner JS, McLellan TM. The transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Res Q Exerc Sport 1980; 51: 234-248
• 4 Binder RK, Wonisch M, Corra U. et al. Methodological approach to the first and second lactate threshold in incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 2008; 15: 726-734
• 5 Seiler KS, Kjerland GO. Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an “optimal” distribution?. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2006; 16: 49-56
• 6 He Z, Tian Y, Valenzuela PL. et al. Myokine/Adipokine response to “Aerobic” exercise: is it just a matter of exercise load?. Front Physiol 2019; 10: 691
• 7 Abt G, Lovell R. The use of individualized speed and intensity thresholds for determining the distance run at high-intensity in professional soccer. J Sports Sci 2009; 27: 893-898
• 8 Sandercock GR, Brodie DA. The use of heart rate variability measures to assess autonomic control during exercise. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2006; 16: 302-313
• 9 Anosov O, Patzak A, Kononovich Y. et al. High-frequency oscillations of the heart rate during ramp load reflect the human anaerobic threshold. Eur J Appl Physiol 2000; 83: 388-394
• 10 Riley M, Maehara K, Porszasz J. et al. Association between the anaerobic threshold and the break-point in the double product/work rate relationship. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1997; 75: 14-21
• 11 Cottin F, Lepretre PM, Lopes P. et al. Assessment of ventilatory thresholds from heart rate variability in well-trained subjects during cycling. Int J Sports Med 2006; 27: 959-967
• 12 Cottin F, Medigue C, Lopes P. et al. Ventilatory thresholds assessment from heart rate variability during an incremental exhaustive running test. Int J Sports Med 2007; 28: 287-294
• 13 Di Michele R, Gatta G, Di Leo A. et al. Estimation of the anaerobic threshold from heart rate variability in an incremental swimming test. J Strength Cond Res 2012; 26: 3059-3066
• 14 Cassirame J, Tordi N, Fabre N. et al. Heart rate variability to assess ventilatory threshold in ski-mountaineering. Eur J Sport Sci 2015; 15: 615-622
• 15 Buchheit M, Solano R, Millet GP. Heart-rate deflection point and the second heart-rate variability threshold during running exercise in trained boys. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2007; 19: 192-204
• 16 Moody GB, Mark RG, Zoccola A. et al. Derivation of respiratory signals from multi-lead ECGs. Comput Cardiol 1985; 12: 113-116
• 17 Tarvainen MP, Niskanen JP, Lipponen JA. et al. Kubios HRV--heart rate variability analysis software. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 2014; 113: 210-220
• 18 Karapetian GK, Engels HJ, Gretebeck RJ. Use of heart rate variability to estimate LT and VT. Int J Sports Med 2008; 29: 652-657
• 19 Harriss DJ, MacSween A, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2020 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 813-817
• 20 Leger LA, Mercier D, Gadoury C. et al. The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness. J Sports Sci 1988; 6: 93-101
• 21 Algroy EA, Hetlelid KJ, Seiler S. et al. Quantifying training intensity distribution in a group of Norwegian professional soccer players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2011; 6: 70-81
• 22 Kuipers H, Verstappen FT, Keizer HA. et al. Variability of aerobic performance in the laboratory and its physiologic correlates. Int J Sports Med 1985; 6: 197-201
• 23 Cottin F, Medigue C, Lepretre PM. et al. Heart rate variability during exercise performed below and above ventilatory threshold. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004; 36: 594-600
• 24 Eckberg DL. Point:counterpoint: respiratory sinus arrhythmia is due to a central mechanism vs. respiratory sinus arrhythmia is due to the baroreflex mechanism. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2009; 106: 1740-1742 discussion 1744
• 25 Casadei B, Moon J, Johnston J. et al. Is respiratory sinus arrhythmia a good index of cardiac vagal tone in exercise?. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1996; 81: 556-564
• 26 di Prampero PE, Fusi S, Sepulcri L. et al. Sprint running: A new energetic approach. J Exp Biol 2005; 208: 2809-2816
• 27 Buglione A, di Prampero PE. The energy cost of shuttle running. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 1535-1543
• 28 Jones AM, Doust JH. A 1% treadmill grade most accurately reflects the energetic cost of outdoor running. J Sports Sci 1996; 14: 321-327
• 29 Vanhees L, Stevens A. Exercise intensity: a matter of measuring or of talking?. J Cardiopulm Rehabil 2006; 26: 78-79
• 30 Buchheit M, Laursen PB. High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: Part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis. Sports Med 2013; 43: 313-338
• 31 Lucia A, Hoyos J, Perez M. et al. Heart rate and performance parameters in elite cyclists: a longitudinal study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 1777-1782