Characterisation of baroreflex sensitivity of recreational ultra-endurance athletes
Heather J. A. Foulds
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAnita T. Cote
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAaron A. Phillips
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorSarah A. Charlesworth
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorShannon S. D. Bredin
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorJamie F. Burr
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Present Address: Jamie F. Burr, Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada.
Search for more papers by this authorChipman Taylor Drury
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorShirley Ngai
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Search for more papers by this authorRenee J. Fougere
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAdam C. Ivey
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Darren E. R. Warburton
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Correspondence: Darren E. R. Warburton, Experimental Medicine Program, University of British Columbia, 6108 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorHeather J. A. Foulds
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAnita T. Cote
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAaron A. Phillips
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorSarah A. Charlesworth
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorShannon S. D. Bredin
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorJamie F. Burr
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Present Address: Jamie F. Burr, Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada.
Search for more papers by this authorChipman Taylor Drury
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorShirley Ngai
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Search for more papers by this authorRenee J. Fougere
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAdam C. Ivey
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Darren E. R. Warburton
Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Correspondence: Darren E. R. Warburton, Experimental Medicine Program, University of British Columbia, 6108 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Altered autonomic function has been identified following ultra-endurance event participation among elite world-class athletes. Despite dramatic increases in recreational athlete participation in these ultra-endurance events, the physiological effects on these athletes are less known. This investigation sought to characterise changes in surrogate measures of autonomic function: heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure variability (BPV) and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) following ultra-endurance race participation. Further, we sought to compare baseline measures among ultra-endurance athletes and recreationally active controls not participating in the ultra-endurance race. Recreational ultra-endurance athletes (n = 25, 44.6 ± 8.2 years, 8 females) and recreationally active age, sex and body mass index matched controls (n = 25) were evaluated. Measurements of HRV, BPV and BRS were collected pre- and post-race for recreational ultra-endurance athletes and at baseline, for recreationally active controls. Post-race, ultra-endurance athletes demonstrated significantly greater sympathetic modulation [low frequency (LF) power HRV: 50.3 ± 21.6 normalised units (n.u.) to 65.9 ± 20.4 n.u., p = 0.01] and significantly lower parasympathetic modulation [high frequency (HF) power HRV: 45.0 ± 22.4 n.u. to 23.9 ± 13.1 n.u., p < 0.001] and BRS. Baseline measurements BRS (spectral: 13.96 ± 10.82 ms·mmHg−1 vs. 11.39 ± 5.33 ms·mmHg−1) were similar among recreational ultra-endurance athletes and recreationally active controls, though recreational ultra-endurance athletes demonstrated greater parasympathetic modulation of some HRV and BPV measures. Recreational ultra-endurance athletes experienced increased sympathetic tone and declines in BRS post-race, similar to previously reported elite world-class ultra-endurance athletes, though still within normal population ranges.
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