ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of repeated sprint exercises on cardiac autonomic recovery in adolescent and adult males: an experimental trial
1
Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
2
Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
3
Escola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
4
Innovation Center, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
5
Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, Brazil
Submission date: 2024-07-02
Acceptance date: 2024-12-27
Publication date: 2025-03-31
Corresponding author
Paulo Francisco de Almeida-Neto
Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CCS-UFRN, Natal, 59012-570, RN, Brazil
Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CCS-UFRN, Natal, 59012-570, RN, Brazil
Hum Mov. 2025;26(1):125-141
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Repeated sprint exercises (RSEs) are widely used to improve physical fitness; however, their specific effects on cardiac autonomic recovery (CAR) in individuals of different ages and biological maturation (BM) stages still lack investigation. Our objective was to analyse the effect of RSE on CAR, assessed by the heart rate (HR) recovery index and the time and frequency domains of heart rate variability (HRV) in male adolescents and adults.
Methods:
Non-randomised experimental study. Thirty-eight individuals classified as having a high level of physical activity (males, 22 adolescents/16 adults) underwent a single session of RSE consisting of 3 rounds with 6 supra-maximal sprints interspersed with 5 minutes of passive rest. The recovery HR (between rounds) and the HRV from pre-, 20 minutes, 2 hours, and 24 hours post-RSE were assessed using short-range radio telemetry and used to calculate the CAR. In adolescents, BM was analysed using peak-height-velocity (PHV).
Results:
Adolescents demonstrated more efficient parasympathetic reactivation than adults after RSE (η2p = 0.574, p < 0.05), especially those in the pre-PHV stage of BM ( η2p = 0.659, p < 0.05). For HRV, we identified an effect of time for both RSE groups on the mean square root of successive differences in intervals between heartbeats (RMSSD) (η2p = 0.280, p < 0.05) and the low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF) ( η2p = 0.129, p < 0.05). Adolescents indicated higher values than adults for RMSSD and LF.
Conclusions:
Parasympathetic activity is less affected in adolescents, especially pre-PHV, after RSE. In both groups, at least two hours after RSE, parasympathetic activity tended to return to baseline values, stabilising again 24 hours after RSE.
Repeated sprint exercises (RSEs) are widely used to improve physical fitness; however, their specific effects on cardiac autonomic recovery (CAR) in individuals of different ages and biological maturation (BM) stages still lack investigation. Our objective was to analyse the effect of RSE on CAR, assessed by the heart rate (HR) recovery index and the time and frequency domains of heart rate variability (HRV) in male adolescents and adults.
Methods:
Non-randomised experimental study. Thirty-eight individuals classified as having a high level of physical activity (males, 22 adolescents/16 adults) underwent a single session of RSE consisting of 3 rounds with 6 supra-maximal sprints interspersed with 5 minutes of passive rest. The recovery HR (between rounds) and the HRV from pre-, 20 minutes, 2 hours, and 24 hours post-RSE were assessed using short-range radio telemetry and used to calculate the CAR. In adolescents, BM was analysed using peak-height-velocity (PHV).
Results:
Adolescents demonstrated more efficient parasympathetic reactivation than adults after RSE (η2p = 0.574, p < 0.05), especially those in the pre-PHV stage of BM ( η2p = 0.659, p < 0.05). For HRV, we identified an effect of time for both RSE groups on the mean square root of successive differences in intervals between heartbeats (RMSSD) (η2p = 0.280, p < 0.05) and the low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF) ( η2p = 0.129, p < 0.05). Adolescents indicated higher values than adults for RMSSD and LF.
Conclusions:
Parasympathetic activity is less affected in adolescents, especially pre-PHV, after RSE. In both groups, at least two hours after RSE, parasympathetic activity tended to return to baseline values, stabilising again 24 hours after RSE.
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