An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men

We examined heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in young and middle-aged men after a period of detraining that immediately followed the completion of an exercise training program. Eight young (27.8 ± 3.8 years) and ten middle-aged (41.9 ± 3.8 years) men were randomly assigned to complet...

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Main Authors: Andres E. Carrillo, Petros C. Dinas, Paraskevi Gkiata, Alexa R. Ferri, Glen P. Kenny, Yiannis Koutedakis, Athanasios Z. Jamurtas, George S. Metsios, Andreas D. Flouris
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/794
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author Andres E. Carrillo
Petros C. Dinas
Paraskevi Gkiata
Alexa R. Ferri
Glen P. Kenny
Yiannis Koutedakis
Athanasios Z. Jamurtas
George S. Metsios
Andreas D. Flouris
author_facet Andres E. Carrillo
Petros C. Dinas
Paraskevi Gkiata
Alexa R. Ferri
Glen P. Kenny
Yiannis Koutedakis
Athanasios Z. Jamurtas
George S. Metsios
Andreas D. Flouris
author_sort Andres E. Carrillo
collection DOAJ
description We examined heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in young and middle-aged men after a period of detraining that immediately followed the completion of an exercise training program. Eight young (27.8 ± 3.8 years) and ten middle-aged (41.9 ± 3.8 years) men were randomly assigned to complete an 8-week exercise training program that included either aerobic (young: <i>n</i> = 3; middle-aged: <i>n</i> = 2), resistance (young: <i>n</i> = 3; middle-aged: <i>n</i> = 3), or combined (aerobic/resistance) (young: <i>n</i> = 2; middle-aged: <i>n</i> = 5) exercise. Thereafter, participants ceased all planned exercise training activities during an 8-week detraining period. Resting HR and HRV were assessed at baseline, after exercise training, and after detraining. An analysis of mean differences between age groups at each time-point revealed a significantly higher standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean of squared differences between successive RR intervals (RMSSD), high-frequency (HF) band (0.15–0.40 Hz), and cardiac vagal index (CVI) in young participants when compared to middle-aged participants at baseline (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.019) and after detraining (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.045), but not after the 8-week exercise training intervention (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.057). Additionally, in middle-aged participants, we observed a significant negative association between the percent change in HRV indices (RMSSD, HF, and CVI) and systolic blood pressure in response to detraining (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, young participants had higher levels of HRV indices at baseline, reflecting greater cardiac vagal modulation when compared to middle-aged participants. We showed that these age-related differences in HRV are diminished following exercise training but are reestablished following 8 weeks of detraining. Given that age-related attenuations in HRV may reflect changes in cardiovascular health, it is important to further investigate the relationships between HRV, exercise training and detraining, aging, and the risk of poor health outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-bd8b6f3d64364e8497c2d5c30eb624a02025-08-20T03:58:25ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114779410.3390/biology14070794An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged MenAndres E. Carrillo0Petros C. Dinas1Paraskevi Gkiata2Alexa R. Ferri3Glen P. Kenny4Yiannis Koutedakis5Athanasios Z. Jamurtas6George S. Metsios7Andreas D. Flouris8Department of Exercise Science, College of Health Sciences, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USAFAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceFAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceDepartment of Exercise Science, College of Health Sciences, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USAHuman and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaSchool of Physical Education, Sport Science, and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceSchool of Physical Education, Sport Science, and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceSchool of Physical Education, Sport Science, and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceFAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceWe examined heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in young and middle-aged men after a period of detraining that immediately followed the completion of an exercise training program. Eight young (27.8 ± 3.8 years) and ten middle-aged (41.9 ± 3.8 years) men were randomly assigned to complete an 8-week exercise training program that included either aerobic (young: <i>n</i> = 3; middle-aged: <i>n</i> = 2), resistance (young: <i>n</i> = 3; middle-aged: <i>n</i> = 3), or combined (aerobic/resistance) (young: <i>n</i> = 2; middle-aged: <i>n</i> = 5) exercise. Thereafter, participants ceased all planned exercise training activities during an 8-week detraining period. Resting HR and HRV were assessed at baseline, after exercise training, and after detraining. An analysis of mean differences between age groups at each time-point revealed a significantly higher standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean of squared differences between successive RR intervals (RMSSD), high-frequency (HF) band (0.15–0.40 Hz), and cardiac vagal index (CVI) in young participants when compared to middle-aged participants at baseline (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.019) and after detraining (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.045), but not after the 8-week exercise training intervention (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.057). Additionally, in middle-aged participants, we observed a significant negative association between the percent change in HRV indices (RMSSD, HF, and CVI) and systolic blood pressure in response to detraining (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, young participants had higher levels of HRV indices at baseline, reflecting greater cardiac vagal modulation when compared to middle-aged participants. We showed that these age-related differences in HRV are diminished following exercise training but are reestablished following 8 weeks of detraining. Given that age-related attenuations in HRV may reflect changes in cardiovascular health, it is important to further investigate the relationships between HRV, exercise training and detraining, aging, and the risk of poor health outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/794agingautonomic nervous systemcardiac autonomic modulationphysical activityresistance trainingaerobic
spellingShingle Andres E. Carrillo
Petros C. Dinas
Paraskevi Gkiata
Alexa R. Ferri
Glen P. Kenny
Yiannis Koutedakis
Athanasios Z. Jamurtas
George S. Metsios
Andreas D. Flouris
An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men
Biology
aging
autonomic nervous system
cardiac autonomic modulation
physical activity
resistance training
aerobic
title An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men
title_full An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men
title_fullStr An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men
title_full_unstemmed An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men
title_short An Exploratory Investigation of Heart Rate Variability in Response to Exercise Training and Detraining in Young and Middle-Aged Men
title_sort exploratory investigation of heart rate variability in response to exercise training and detraining in young and middle aged men
topic aging
autonomic nervous system
cardiac autonomic modulation
physical activity
resistance training
aerobic
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/794
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