Suppression of heart rate variability after supramaximal exertion

Wingate test is short anaerobic exercise, performed with maximal power, whereas aerobic exercise at 85% maximal heart rate (HR(max)) may be performed for long period. Sustained HR elevations and changes in autonomic activity indices have been observed after latter kind of exercise. Several studies reported reduction in mean interval between consecutive R peaks in ECG (RRI) 1 h after Wingate test; however, underlying changes in autonomic activity remain elusive. In eight young males, RRI and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured daily over two 5-day trials. Subjects exercised on third day of each trial, measurements were taken 1 h after (i) two consecutive 30-s bouts of Wingate tests or (ii) after a 30-min exercise at 85% HR(max), with subjects in supine rest and breathing either spontaneously or at controlled rates of 6 and 15 breaths / min. RRI was significantly shorter after Wingate and submaximal exercise, reduction of high- and low-frequency components of HRV attained reliability only after Wingate tests. This pattern remained preserved for three modes of breathing: spontaneous, 6 and 15 breaths /min. After 24 and 48 h, no exercise effects were traceable. We hypothesize that (i) anaerobic exertion is followed by sustained inhibition of vagal activity, (ii) parasympathetic system plays dominant role in mediating suppression of high- and low-HRV frequency components during postexercise recovery, (iii) degree of alteration of autonomic activity caused by anaerobic and strenuous aerobic exercise may be similar and (iv) normalization of vagal activity precedes normalization of sympathetic cardiac nerves activity during final stage of postexercise recovery.