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Spectral methods of heart rate variability analysis during dynamic exercise

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Abstract

Objectives

To apply both autoregressive (AR) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectral analysis at rest, during two different dynamic exercise intensities and in recovery from maximal exercise and to compare raw and normalized powers obtained with both methods.

Methods

Sixteen participants (age 22.3 ± 4.3 year) performed resting, submaximal and maximal protocols. The submaximal protocol consisted of two 5-min walks at 4 km h−1 at treadmill grades of 0 and 7.5%. Beat-to-beat R-R series were recorded. FFT and AR analyses were preformed on the same R-R series.

Results

Compared to AR, FFT provided higher total power (TP) and raw high-frequency (HF) power at rest and exercise. Furthermore, FFT LF/HF ratio was lower than with the AR, except under resting conditions. Both methods showed reductions in TP, raw HF and LF powers during exercise and recovery. Only the AR revealed a significant reduction for normalized HF power and increase for normalized LF power in transition from rest to exercise conditions.

Interpretation

AR and FFT methods are not interchangeable at rest or during dynamic exercise conditions. The AR method is more sensitive to the effects of exercise on the normalized power spectra of heart rate variability (HRV) than FFT. Finally, as both approaches are equally insensitive to the increase of exercise relative intensity, there is no practical advantage of performing HRV spectral analyses by the AR or FFT at higher workloads.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Center of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, Lisbon, Portugal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Kinetics Department, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Goncalo Vilhena Mendonca & Fernando D. Pereira

  2. Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA

    Bo Fernhall

  3. Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Kevin S. Heffernan

  4. Estrada da Costa, Cruz Quebrada, Cruz Quebrada Dafundo, 1495-688, Lisbon, Portugal

    Goncalo Vilhena Mendonca

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  1. Goncalo Vilhena Mendonca
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  2. Bo Fernhall
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  3. Kevin S. Heffernan
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  4. Fernando D. Pereira
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Correspondence to Goncalo Vilhena Mendonca.

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Mendonca, G.V., Fernhall, B., Heffernan, K.S. et al. Spectral methods of heart rate variability analysis during dynamic exercise. Clin Auton Res 19, 237–245 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-009-0018-1

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