Heart-rate variability and precompetitive anxiety in swimmers.
The aim of this study was to test the utility of heart-rate variability (HRV) analyses as a noninvasive means of quantifying cardiac autonomic regulation during precompetitive anxiety situations in swimmers. Psychophysiological state evaluation of 10 volunteer <<master>> swimmers (6 women and 4 men) was obtained by comparing baseline training condition (TC) with competition condition (CC). Self-evaluation of precompetitive somatic anxiety measured by CSAI-2 showed significant increase from the TC to CC. Analysis showed that during higher precompetitive anxiety level, a significant reduction in the timing (RMSSD), frequency (HFms2 and HFnu) and Poincaré plot (SD1) of heart-rate variability was observed, and a significant increase in the low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF %). The results indicate a shift towards sympathetic predominance as a result of parasympathetic withdrawal. Our results provide an HRV analysis in a valid, useful and non-invasive way to evaluate the change of sympathovagal balance in presence of precompetitive stress.
Laboratorio de Psicología del Deporte, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain. catajulio@hotmail.com
Julio César
JC
Cervantes Blásquez
Gil
G
Rodas Font
Lluís
L
Capdevila Ortís
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology