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Live high–train low guided by daily heart rate variability in elite Nordic-skiers

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze if live high–train low (LHTL) effectiveness is improved when daily training is guided by heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods

Twenty-four elite Nordic skiers took part in a 15-day LHTL study and were randomized into a HRV-guided training hypoxic group (H-HRV, n = 9, sleeping in normobaric hypoxia, FiO2 = 15.0%) and two predefined training groups sleeping either in hypoxia (H, n = 9, FiO2 = 15.0%) or normoxia (N, n = 6). HRV and training loads (TL) were recorded daily. Prior (Pre), one (Post-1), and 21 days (Post-21) following LHTL, athletes performed a 10-km roller-ski test, and a treadmill test for determination of \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}}\) was performed at Pre and Post-1.

Results

Some HRV parameters measured in supine position were different between H-HRV and H: low and high (HF) frequency power in absolute (ms2) (16.0 ± 35.1 vs. 137.0 ± 54.9%, p = 0.05) and normalized units (− 3.8 ± 10.1 vs. 53.0 ± 19.5%, p = 0.02), HF(nu) (6.3 ± 6.8 vs. − 13.7 ± 8.0%, p = 0.03) as well as heart rate (3.7 ± 6.3 vs. 12.3 ± 4.1%, p = 0.008). At Post-1, \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}}\) was improved in H-HRV and H (3.8 ± 3.1%; p = 0.02 vs. 3.0 ± 4.4%; p = 0.08) but not in N (0.9 ± 5.1%; p = 0.7). Only H-HRV improved the roller-ski performance at Post-21 (− 2.7 ± 3.6%, p = 0.05).

Conclusion

The daily individualization of TL reduced the decrease in autonomic nervous system parasympathetic activity commonly associated with LHTL. The improved performance and oxygen consumption in the two LHTL groups confirm the effectiveness of LHTL even in elite endurance athletes.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

FFT:

Fast Fourier transform

FiO2 :

Inspired fraction of oxygen

H:

Hypoxic

HF:

High-frequency power

HFnu:

High-frequency power in normalized units

Hbmass :

Hemoglobin mass

HR:

Heart rate

HRV:

Heart rate variability

LF:

Low-frequency power

LFnu:

Low-frequency power in normalized units

LHTL:

Live high–train low

N:

Normoxic

PiO2 :

Partial pressure of inspired oxygen

QSFMS:

Questionnaire of the French Society of Sports Medicine

SpO2 :

Pulse oxygen saturation

TL:

Training load

\({\dot {V}_{\text{E}}}\)/\(\dot {V}{\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}\) :

Ventilatory equivalent of carbon dioxide

\({\dot {V}_{\text{E}}}\)/\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_2}\) :

Ventilatory equivalent of oxygen

\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}}\) :

Maximal oxygen consumption

VT1:

First ventilatory threshold

VT2:

Second ventilatory threshold

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Acknowledgements

We thank the athletes of the French national Nordic-combined and Cross-country skiing (men and women) teams and their coaches: for Nordic-combined—Jérôme Laheurte and Cyril Michaud-Fidey; for cross-country skiing—Vincent Vittoz and Thibaut Chene.

Funding

No external funding was received for this work from NIH; Welcome Trust; HHMI; others.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National School of Mountain Sports/National Ski-Nordic Centre, 1848 route des Pessettes, 39220, Premanon, France

    Laurent Schmitt

  2. ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Laurent Schmitt, Sarah J. Willis, Anthony Fardel & Gregoire P. Millet

  3. French Ski Federation, 74000, Annecy, France

    Nicolas Coulmy

Authors
  1. Laurent Schmitt
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  2. Sarah J. Willis
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  3. Anthony Fardel
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  4. Nicolas Coulmy
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  5. Gregoire P. Millet
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurent Schmitt.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

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Schmitt, L., Willis, S.J., Fardel, A. et al. Live high–train low guided by daily heart rate variability in elite Nordic-skiers. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 419–428 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3784-9

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