THE CHANGES ON THE HRV AFTER A WINGATE ANAEROBIC TEST IN DIFFERENT SIMULATED ALTITUDES IN HEALTHY, PHYSICALLY-ACTIVE ADULTS

DICLE ARAS*, BETUL COSKUN**

* Dicle Aras Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey - **Betul Coskun, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Education, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of single Wingate anaerobic test on heart rate variability (HRV) parameters at 162 m, 1015 m, 2146 m, and 3085 m of altitudes, and to understand how normobaric hypoxia affect the autonomic nervous system.

Material and methods: A total number of 21 (10 male, 11 female) physically active adult college students participated in this study voluntarily. After the informed consent forms were filled out by all participants, and their body composition was measured in the first visit, subjects visited the laboratory four more times with the 2 days of intervals. In every visit a participant’s HRV measurement was collected after the hypoxia mask was placed on his/her face, and participant was taken to Wingate Anaerobic Test with the mask. Immediately after the Wingate Anaerobic Test, the HRV was collected again. This procedure was applied at 162 m, 1015 m, 2146 m, and 3085 m of altitude randomly.

Results: Despite the fact that all HRV values were significantly different in the comparisons of pre- and post-test results, no change was found in any of SDNN, SDSD, RMSSD, TP, HF, LF/HF, HF, HFnu, LF, LFnu, and VLF parameters depending on the different altitudes. We also found no change on anaerobic power levels.

Conclusion: In accordance with the present findings of the study it could be concluded that to exposure to normobaric hypoxia at 162 m, 1015 m, 2146 m, and 3085 m had no additional effect on both autonomic nervous system determined by using HRV measurement and anaerobic performance.