Post-exercise cardiac autonomic recovery is associated with resting chronotropic response in different body positions in men

Associated between post-exercise cardiac autonomic reactivity and resting heart rate

Abstract

Aim: This study evaluated the association between heart rate recovery (HRR) and cardiac parasympathetic reactivation following a submaximal exercise test with resting heart rate (RHR) in the supine and orthostatic positions. Methods: The heart rate (HR), HRR, relative HRR (Δ% HRR), and cardiac parasympathetic reactivation (r-MSSD) values during passive orthostatic recovery at the 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th min following the submaximal exercise test were correlated with RHR in both the supine (RHR_sup) and orthostatic (RHR_ort) positions in 24 physically active men. The statistical analysis employed Pearson and Spearman correlation tests with a two-tailed p-value set at ≤ 0.05. Results: At the 1^st min, HR was significantly correlated with RHR_ort (r = 0.40; p = 0.05). HR, HRR, and Δ% HRR at the 3^rd and 5^th min were significantly correlated with RHR (r = from -0.67 to 0.73; p ≤ 0.02; R² = 32-53%), independent of the body position at rest. At the 3^rd and 5^th min, the r-MSSD was significantly correlated with RHR_sup (r = -0.60, -0.46; p ≤ 0.02). At the 3^rd min, the r-MSSD was significantly correlated with RHR_ort (r = -0.46; p = 0.02). Conclusion: Faster HRR and parasympathetic reactivation on the 3^rd and 5^th minute after the submaximal exercise test were associated with low RHR in the supine and orthostatic positions in active young men.