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C Calderón-Soto1, AJ Morales3, FA Rodríguez2, X Iglesias2, B Feriche3, J Vázquez2, L Rodríguez-Zamora2, A Barrero2, E

Hynynen4.

1: CAR Sierra Nevada, Granada (Spain), 2: INEFC, University of Barcelona (Spain), 3: FCAFD, University of Granada (Spain), 4: KIHU

Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyväskylä (Finland).

HEART RATE VARIABILITYANDACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS

DURING THEACCLIMATIZATION PERIOD OFALTITUDE

TRAINING CAMP IN ELITE SWIMMERS

ObjetiveObjetive

During altitude training hypoxic stimulus may lead to symptoms of acute mountain sickness and changes in autonomic

balance measured by heart rate variability. Our aim was to analyze the classical parameters and the new ones

developed by Firstbeat Technologies during the acclimatization period at moderate altitude.

Correspondence:

Dra Carmen Calderón. Sport Medicine Department. CAR Sierra Nevada. Spain.

carmen.calderon@csd.gob.es

ReferencesReferences

-Aubert A et al (2003). Heart rate variability in athletes. Sports Med 33:889.

-Schmitt L et al (2006): Heart rate variability and performance at two different altitudes in well-trained swimmers. Int J Sports Med 27:226.

-Heart beat based recovery analysis for athletic training. White paper by Firstbeat Technologies Ltd, 2009.

ConclusionsConclusions

Clinical and physiological states during altitude training could be monitored by heart rate variability and symptomatology.

Although there is great variability among subjects, new variables as absolute relaxation index show potential usefulness during

the acclimatization period of altitude training. Clinical and cardiovascular variables show some delay but both seem to recover

at the end of the 1st week. More studies are needed to control other variables such as training load and individual susceptibility.

16 elite swimmers lived and trained 3 weeks at 2320 m

in the Altitude Training Center of Sierra Nevada, Spain.

RR-intervals were recorded every morning in supine

position (8-min) with beat-by-beat heart rate monitors at

paced breathing (12/min). Data were analyzed with

Firstbeat Health software using neural network model.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) was scored with Lake

Louise questionnaire.

Pre-altitude values and on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 were

analyzed for mean heart rate, absolute relaxation index,

RMSDD, total power, LF/HFratio, and HF and LF

normalized.

MethodsMethods

Check mark þ if you felt (or not) any of these symptoms last night or today

0 1 2 3

Headacheg

No headache

gMild headache

gModerate headache

gSevere headache,

incapacitating

Gastrointestinal symptoms

cNone,

normal appetite

cPoor appetite

or mild nausea

cModerate nauseaand/or vomiting

cSevere nauseaand/or vomiting

Fatigue and/or weaknessg

Not tired or weak

gMild

fatigue / weakness

gModerate

fatigue / weakness

gSevere

fatigue / weakness

Dizziness / lightheadednessc

Not dizzy

cMild

dizziness

cModeratedizziness

cSevere dizziness,

incapacitating

Difficulty sleepingg

Slept as well as usual

gDid not sleep

as well as usual

gWoke many times,

poor sleep

gCould not sleep at all

22.2 ± 1.6

years

74.8 ± 7.9

kg

186.2 ± 8.8

cm

All subjects experienced AMS symptoms with a

medium score of 2.7 ± 2.3. Highest score was on day-1

(3.8 ± 2.6) while lowest was on 7th (1.1 ± 1.1).

Mean heart rate showed differences throughout the

week (p<0.05) with maximum values on day-3.

ResultsResults

Absolute relaxation index and total power decreased up

to day 3 while no significance difference was found in

RMSSD, LF/HFratio, HF normalized and LF normalized.

As worst results for AMS were on day-1 AMS and for

cardiovascular variables on day-3, there was not a

good correlation. Nevertheless HR was higher in

swimmers who experienced moderate or severe

symptoms vs no/light (63.4 vs 58.0 bpm).