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Autonomic Regulation of the Circulation During Exercise and Heat Exposure

Inferences from Heart Rate Variability

Sports Medicine volume 26, pages 85–99 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

Minimal information is available on the autonomic response to exercise under adverse environmental conditions. Traditionally, pharmacological blockade has been used to study autonomic responsiveness but, owing to its invasive nature, such studies have been limited in their scope. Recent advances in electrocardiographic tape recording, telemetry and associated computing systems have provided investigators with noninvasive methods for assessing the autonomic response to various physiological stressors. This article describes methods for the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) and discusses the reports of those who have used HRV analysis to evaluate autonomic regulation during exercise, heat exposure and the combination of these 2 stressors.

Spectral analysis of HRV reduces variations in the R-R interval into component sine waves of differing amplitude and frequency. Amplitude (variance) is displayed as a function of frequency, and power (cumulative variance) is calculated for specified frequency ranges (<0.03Hz, 0.03 to 0.15Hz and 0.15 to 0.5Hz). Parasympathetic nervous system activity can be inferred from the several indices of high frequency power; however, the estimation of sympathetic nervous system activity from low frequency power is more problematic.

Data on HRV have shown that sympathovagal regulation during exercise is dependent on the intensity of the activity and the environmental conditions. At the onset of exercise, heart rate is increased by a reduction in vagal tone and a temporary increase in sympathetic tone. A continuation of physical activity is associated with a continued withdrawal of vagal activity and an attenuation of sympathetic nervous system tone. However, with the additional stimulus of a heated environment, sympathetic activity remains increased throughout exercise.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Ingrid K. M. Brenner &  Roy J. Shephard

  2. Defence & Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, North York, Ontario, Canada

    Ingrid K. M. Brenner &  Roy J. Shephard

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Scott Thomas &  Roy J. Shephard

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Scott Thomas &  Roy J. Shephard

Authors
  1. Ingrid K. M. Brenner
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  2. Scott Thomas
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  3. Roy J. Shephard
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Correspondence to Roy J. Shephard.

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Brenner, I.K.M., Thomas, S. & Shephard, R.J. Autonomic Regulation of the Circulation During Exercise and Heat Exposure. Sports Med 26, 85–99 (1998). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199826020-00003

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Keywords

  • Adis International Limited
  • Heart Rate Variability
  • Sympathetic Activity
  • Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
  • Heat Exposure