Key result
Workout 2 linked to ~50% higher pre-exercise anxiety and greater sympathetic stress than Workout 1.
Why the study?
The feasibility of on-site collection of subjective anxiety, autonomic nervous system activity, and salivary catecholamines surrounding HIFT competition was not established.
Does the specific design of a high-intensity functional training workout affect pre-anticipatory anxiety and autonomic nervous system responses in experienced competitors?
Observational (n=10)
No
Does the specific design of a high-intensity functional training workout affect pre-anticipatory anxiety and autonomic nervous system responses in experienced competitors?
p-value: p=<0.05
Autonomic activity and anxiety responses differ significantly based on the specific design of high-intensity functional training workouts in competitive settings.
Feasibility of on-site HRV and anxiety monitoring in HIFT supports larger studies; leaves open effects on autonomic recovery.
To evaluate the feasibility of on-site collection of subjective anxiety, autonomic nervous system activity, and salivary catecholamines surrounding high-intensity functional training (HIFT) competition, ten experienced HIFT competitors completed baseline assessments of anxiety and heart rate variability (HRV). Then, in two consecutive weeks (Workout 1 and 2) within the competition, HRV was recorded and examined in 5-min segments prior to exercise (PRE) and across a 30-min period after competitors completed their choice of the prescribed or scaled each workout. Subjective anxiety ratings and saliva samples were collected at PRE and immediately-(IP), 30-min (30P), and 60-min post-exercise (60P). Saliva samples were analyzed for concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Generalized linear mixed models with repeated measures revealed significant (p < 0.05) differences between workouts for all measures. Compared to Workout 1, anxiety (~50%), epinephrine (173–340%), norepinephrine (29–234%) were greater in Workout 2 and various HRV-derived indices were more depressed. Additionally, some HRV-derived indices appeared to be modulated (p < 0.05) by competitive level and sex at PRE and throughout the 30-min recovery period. These data suggest that autonomic activity may differ between the competitive and laboratory settings, and that the response may be further modulated by the workout’s design, the athlete’s sex, and competitive level.
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Mangine et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Healthy recreationally-trained HIFT practitioners (n=10). High-intensity functional training (HIFT) competition workouts vs. Baseline / Workout 1 was evaluated on Subjective anxiety, autonomic nervous system activity (HRV), and salivary catecholamines (p=<0.05). Compared to Workout 1, Workout 2 elicited greater pre-exercise anxiety (~50%), higher epinephrine (173–340%) and norepinephrine (29–234%) concentrations, and more depressed HRV-derived indices.
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