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.
Cervantes Blásquez
Julio César
JC
Laboratorio de Psicología del Deporte, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain. catajulio@hotmail.com
Rodas Font
Gil
G
Capdevila Ortís
Lluís
L
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