title: Effects of aerobic training on heart rate dynamics in sedentary subjects.
abstract: This study was designed to assess the effects of moderate- and high-volume aerobic training on the time domain and on spectral and fractal heart rate (HR) variability indexes. Sedentary subjects were randomized into groups with moderate-volume training (n = 20), high-volume training (n = 20), and controls (n = 15). The training period was 8 wk, including 6 sessions/wk at an intensity of 70-80% of the maximum HR, lasting for 30 min/session in the moderate-volume group and 60 min/session in the high-volume group. Time domain, frequency domain, and short-term fractal scaling measures of HR variability were analyzed over a 24-h period. Mean HR decreased from 70 +/- 7 to 64 +/- 8 beats/min and from 67 +/- 5 to 60 +/- 6 beats/min (P < 0.001 for both) for the moderate- and high-volume training groups, respectively. The normalized high-frequency spectral component increased in both groups (P < 0.05). The normalized low-frequency component decreased significantly (P < 0.05), resulting in a marked decrease in low frequency-to-high frequency ratio in both groups. In addition, short-term scaling exponent decreased in both groups (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the changes of HR variability indexes between groups. Aerobic training in sedentary subjects results in altered autonomic regulation of HR toward vagal dominance. A moderate training volume is a sufficient intervention to induce these beneficial effects.
authors.affiliation: Merikoski Rehabilitation and Research Center, 90100 Oulu, Finland. mikko.tulppo@merikoski.fi
authors.forename: Mikko P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tulppo
authors.forename: Arto J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hautala
authors.forename: Timo H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mäkikallio
authors.forename: Raija T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nissilä
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hughson
authors.forename: Heikki V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Huikuri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*