title: Utility of the Conconi's heart rate deflection to monitor the intensity of aerobic training.
abstract: The Conconi's heart-rate deflection point (HRd) in the heart rate (HR)/speed curve is often used to set aerobic training loads. Training could either be set in percentage running speed or HR at HRd. In order to establish the limits and usefulness of various aerobic-training modalities for intermediate athletic level (physical-education students), acute responses were analyzed while running for a typical 40-minute training session. Speed, HR, lactate, and cortisol were thus recorded during training at 90 and 100% of running speed (RS: n = 14) and HR (HR: n = 16) at HRd (90% running speed [RS90], 100% running speed [RS100], 90% HR [HR90], and 100% HR [HR100]). During constant HR training, RS decreases while HR drifts upward during constant RS training. Half of the subjects can not finish the 40-minute RS100 session. For HR90, RS90, HR100, and RS100, average intensities are 67, 69, 74.9, and 77% maximal aerobic speed (multistage test), respectively. This study indicates that (1) training at HR100 and RS100 is more appropriate to improve high-intensity metabolic capacities (increased cortisol and lactate) while RS100 is too difficult to be maintained for 40 minutes for subjects at that level at least, (2) training at HR90, however, is better to improve endurance and capacity to do a large amount of work considering cortisol and lactate homeostasis, and (3) training at a constant HR using a HR monitor is a good method to control the intensity of the training with subjects not used to pacing themselves with the split-time approach.
authors.affiliation: LAPS (Laboratoire d'Analyse de la Performance Sportive), Département STAPS, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Zone industrielle Bastillac-Sud, Tarbes, France;
authors.forename: Philippe A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Passelergue
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cormery
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lac
authors.forename: Luc A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Léger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone