Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(7): 552-558
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989286
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cardiac Autonomic Responses to Standing Up and Cognitive Task in Overtrained Athletes

E. Hynynen1 , A. Uusitalo2 , N. Konttinen3 , H. Rusko3 , 4
  • 1Sports Physiology, KIHU-Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 2Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
  • 3Sports Psychology, KIHU-Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 4Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 26, 2007

Publication Date:
30 November 2007 (online)

Abstract

This study compared the autonomic responses to an active orthostatic test and Stroop Color Word Test (Stroop) as well as cognitive performance in Stroop in twelve severely overtrained (OA, 6 men and 6 women) and twelve control athletes (CA, 6 men and 6 women). RR-intervals were recorded during the orthostatic test, the Stroop, and a relaxation period succeeding the Stroop. Low frequency power during standing in the orthostatic test was lower in OA than in CA (1322 ± 955 ms2 vs. 2262 ± 1029 ms2, p = 0.030, respectively). During Stroop, OA had higher relative total power (50 ± 47 % vs. 19 ± 14 % of the individual total power during supine rest after awakening, p = 0.028, respectively) and high frequency power (38.5 ± 9.4 % vs. 13.5 ± 2.3 % of the individual high frequency power during supine rest after awakening, p = 0.035, respectively) than CA. In the Stroop, OA made more mistakes than CA (9.7 ± 6.5 % vs. 5.4 ± 3.0 %, p = 0.045). The increase in absolute total power from the Stroop to relaxation correlated negatively with the amount of mistakes in the Stroop (r = - 0.588, p = 0.003). Thus, cardiac autonomic modulation during orthostatic task and responses to cognitive task and to relaxation, as well as the cognitive performance were attenuated in severe overtraining.

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 Mr.
Esa Hynynen

KIHU-Research Institute for Olympic Sports
Sports Physiology

Rautpohjankatu 6

40700 Jyväskylä

Finland

Phone: + 35 84 05 60 43 43

Fax: + 35 82 07 81 15 01

Email: esa.hynynen@kihu.fi