Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (Sep 2023)

Exercise Cardiac Load and Autonomic Nervous System Recovery during In-Season Training: The Impact on Speed Deterioration in American Football Athletes

  • Eric Renaghan,
  • Harrison L. Wittels,
  • Luis A. Feigenbaum,
  • Michael Joseph Wishon,
  • Stephanie Chong,
  • Eva Danielle Wittels,
  • Stephanie Hendricks,
  • Dustin Hecocks,
  • Kyle Bellamy,
  • Joe Girardi,
  • Stephen Lee,
  • Tri Vo,
  • Samantha M. McDonald,
  • S. Howard Wittels

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk8030134
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
p. 134

Abstract

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Fully restoring autonomic nervous system (ANS) function is paramount for peak sports performance. Training programs failing to provide sufficient recovery, especially during the in-season, may negatively affect performance. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the physiological workload of collegiate football training on ANS recovery and function during the in-season. Football athletes recruited from a D1 college in the southeastern US were prospectively followed during their 13-week “in-season”. Athletes wore armband monitors equipped with ECG and inertial movement capabilities that measured exercise cardiac load (ECL; total heartbeats) and maximum running speed during and baseline heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV) 24 h post-training. These metrics represented physiological load (ECL = HR·Duration), ANS function, and recovery, respectively. Linear regression models evaluated the associations between ECL, baseline HR, HRV, and maximum running speed. Athletes (n = 30) were 20.2 ± 1.5 years, mostly non-Hispanic Black (80.0%). Negative associations were observed between acute and cumulative exposures of ECLs and running speed (β = −0.11 ± 0.00, p p p = 0.001). HRV metrics were positively associated with running speed: (SDNN: β = 0.32 ± 0.09, p p < 0.02). Our study demonstrated that exposure to high ECLs, both acutely and cumulatively, may negatively influence maximum running speed, which may manifest in a deteriorating ANS. Further research should continue identifying optimal training: recovery ratios during off-, pre-, and in-season phases.

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