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aim of the present study was to examine the effects of endurance training
on heart rate (HR) recovery after exercise and cardiac autonomic nervous
system (ANS) modulation in female marathon runners by comparing with
untrained controls. Six female marathon runners (M group) aged 32-40
years and eight age-matched untrained females (C group) performed
a maximum-effort treadmill running exercise. Maximal oxygen uptake
(VO2max) was measured during the exercise with a gas analyzer connected
to subjects through a face mask. Heart rate, blood pressure and blood
lactate were measured before and after the exercise. Rating of perceived
exertion (RPE) to the exercise was obtained immediately after the
exercise. Holter ECG was recorded and analyzed with power spectral
analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) to investigate the cardiac
ANS modulation. The M group had significantly higher VO2max, faster
HR recovery after exercise, higher Mean RR, SDRR, HF power and lower
LF/HF ratio at rest compared with the C group. The M group also presented
greater percent decrease of blood pressure after exercise, although
their blood pressure after exercise was higher than the C group. It
is suggested that endurance training induced significant alterations
in cardiac ANS modulation at rest and significant acceleration of
HR recovery after exercise in female marathon runners. Faster HR recovery
after exercise in the female marathon runners should result from their
higher levels of HRV, higher aerobic capacity and exaggerated blood
pressure response to exercise compared with untrained controls.
KEY
WORDS: Heart rate recovery, heart rate variability, female marathon
runner.
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