Heart rate variability in a young athlete during a high level badminton match

Abstract

Objective. To analyze heart rate variability (HRV) in a young athlete at rest and after consecutive high level badminton matches in order to assess the relationship between the changes observed in HRV and the accumulation of physical work in a short period.

Method. The RR signal was measured beat to beat over 20 minutes at rest in supine position five times. A first registry was obtained the day after his arrival to the host city for the championship and before it started. The other registries were obtained in the hour after each match (4 in all). Statistical parameters in the time domain and Poincaré graphics were obtained.

Results. As the matches were accumulating, the player showed a progressive fall in the time domain parameters while the mean heart rate increased. The Poincaré graphics showed a decrease in the transversal axis without modifying the longitudinal axis and the tachogram of the baseline measure and after each match reflected a decrease in the HRV from the first to the fourth match.

Conclusion. As the work is accumulated during a high level competition, HRV decreases, reaching values that would be considered high risk is obtained at rest (SDRR= 34.07 ms and pRR50% = 0.65%). On the other hand, the autonomic imbalance which leads to a sympathetic predominance over heart rate seems to be caused by parasympathetic inhibition more than by higher sympathetic stimulation.