Heart rate variability indices in professional football players under various anaerobic testing modes in dinamics of the preparatory period

Objective: to study the dynamics of performance and its regulatory neurovegetative support in professional football players under various anaerobic energy supply regimes at the stages of the preparatory period.

Materials and methods: in a prospective study, 16 male athletes aged 18–20 years, first sports category, the main squad of the Smolensk State University of Sports football team at a special preparatory stage of the training and competition cycle were examined. Athletes performed anaerobic tests lasting 6, 15, and 45 seconds to assess, respectively, speed-strength abilities, maximum alactic power and glycolytic endurance on a modernized version of the Ergomedic 894E “Monark” bicycle ergometer. The functional state of athletes in the dynamics of the tests was assessed by diagnosing heart rate variability indicators using the “Varicard 2.6” device.

Results: the initial values of anaerobic performance in qualified football players were high during all three tests and corresponded to their qualification. Intensive training factors of the preparatory period were reflected in the potentiation of their special performance. At the same time, the least “trainable” in the dynamics of the preparatory period, but the most stable and less “costly” in the neurovegetative provision of muscle activity were speed-strength abilities. With the transition to the test assessment of the dynamics of maximum alactic power (MAP) and glycolytic endurance in football players, more significant increases in the values of the corresponding indicators were noted, most pronounced by the end of the special preparatory period. However, such progress in anaerobic performance indicators was accompanied by negative dynamics in HRV indicators (a significant decrease in HF values, the most pronounced increase in LF, LF / HF, VLF), which can be assessed as an overstrain of autonomic regulation, initial signs of overtraining.

Conclusion: the most difficult in terms of the tension of autonomous regulation is recognized as a 45-second anaerobic test, during which the metabolism switches to glycolysis. The obtained results prove the validity of modifications of training regimes of football players at the preparatory stage, aimed at optimizing/reducing the loads of alactate and glycolytic orientation in favor of aerobic training, in order to “bring out” athletes to the best test sports results while maintaining an adequate functional state.

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