A single bout of exercise with flexible pole induces significant cardiac autonomic responses in healthy men

• Grant number: 14/10001-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Vitor Engrácia Valenti
• Grantee: Vitor Engrácia Valenti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Flexible poles are tools able to provide rapid eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. Muscle vibration is associated to "tonic vibration reflex", that is stimulated by a sequence of rapid muscle stretching activating the muscle spindles, triggering a response similar to the myotatic reflex. It lacks in the literature studies that analyze cardiovascular acute responses in different exercises performed with this instrument. We investigated the acute effects of exercise with flexible poles on heart period in healthy men. Method: The study was performed on ten young adult males aged between 18 and 25 years old. We evaluated the heart rate variability in the time and frequency domain. The subjects remained at rest for 10 minutes. After the rest period, the volunteers performed the exercises with the flexible poles. Immediately after the exercise protocol, the volunteers remained seated at rest for 30 minutes and heart rate variability were analyzed. Results: The pNN50 reduced 5-10 and 15-20 min after exercise compared to 25-30 min after exercise (p=0.0019), the SDNN increased 25-30 min compared to rest and 0-10min after exercise (p=0.0073) and the RMSSD increased 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-15min after exercise (p=0.0043). The LF in absolute units increased 25-30 minutes after exercise compared to 5-20 minutes after exercise (p = 0.0184). Conclusion: A single bout of exercise with flexible pole reduced heart rate variability and parasympathetic recovery occurred approximately 30 minutes after the exercise. (AU)