Reliability and Sensitivity of Nocturnal Heart Rate and Heart-Rate Variability in Monitoring Individual Responses to Training Load release_e5vuy25cvvdz3jdm4dj2mkvi44

Abstract

<jats:italic><jats:bold>Purpose</jats:bold>:</jats:italic> To assess the reliability of nocturnal heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) and to analyze the sensitivity of these markers to maximal endurance exercise. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Methods</jats:bold>:</jats:italic> Recreational runners recorded nocturnal HR and HRV on nights after 2 identical low-intensity training sessions (n = 15) and on nights before and after a 3000-m running test (n = 23). Average HR, the natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive differences (LnRMSSD), and the natural logarithm of the high-frequency power (LnHF) were analyzed from a full night (FULL), a 4-hour (4H) segment starting 30 minutes after going to sleep, and morning value (MOR) based on the endpoint of the linear fit through all 5-minute averages during the night. Differences between the nights were analyzed with a general linear model, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for internight reliability assessments. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Results</jats:bold>:</jats:italic> All indices were similar between the nights followed by low-intensity training sessions. A very high ICC (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; .001) was observed in all analysis segments with a range of .97 to .98 for HR, .92 to .97 for LnRMSSD, and .91 to .96 for LnHF. HR increased (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; .001), whereas LnRMSSD (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; .01) and LnHF (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; .05) decreased after the 3000-m test compared with previous night only in 4H and FULL. Increments in HR (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; .01) and decrements in LnRMSSD (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; .05) were greater in 4H compared with FULL and MOR. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Conclusions</jats:bold>:</jats:italic> Nocturnal HR and HRV indices are highly reliable. Demanding maximal exercise increases HR and decreases HRV most systematically in 4H and FULL segments.
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