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. 2021 Apr 26;6(2):38.
doi: 10.3390/jfmk6020038.

Detection of the Anaerobic Threshold in Endurance Sports: Validation of a New Method Using Correlation Properties of Heart Rate Variability

Bruce Rogers  1 , David Giles  2 , Nick Draper  3 , Laurent Mourot  4   5 , Thomas Gronwald  6
Affiliations

Detection of the Anaerobic Threshold in Endurance Sports: Validation of a New Method Using Correlation Properties of Heart Rate Variability

Bruce Rogers et al. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. .

Abstract

Past attempts to define an anaerobic threshold (AnT) have relied upon gas exchange kinetics, lactate testing and field-based evaluations. DFA a1, an index of heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) fractal correlation properties, has been shown to decrease with exercise intensity. The intent of this study is to investigate whether the AnT derived from gas exchange is associated with the transition from a correlated to uncorrelated random HRV pattern signified by a DFA a1 value of 0.5. HRV and gas exchange data were obtained from 15 participants during an incremental treadmill run. Comparison of the HR reached at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2) was made to the HR reached at a DFA a1 value of 0.5 (HRVT2). Based on Bland-Altman analysis and linear regression, there was strong agreement between VT2 and HRVT2 measured by HR (r = 0.78, p < 0.001). Mean VT2 was reached at a HR of 174 (±12) bpm compared to mean HRVT2 at a HR of 171 (±16) bpm. In summary, the HR associated with a DFA a1 value of 0.5 on an incremental treadmill ramp was closely related to that of the HR at the VT2 derived from gas exchange analysis. A distinct numerical value of DFA a1 representing an uncorrelated, random interbeat pattern appears to be associated with the VT2 and shows potential as a noninvasive marker for training intensity distribution and performance status.

Keywords: HRV; autonomic nervous system; endurance training; intensity distribution.

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Conflict of interest statement

D.G. was employed by company Lattice Training. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Individual examples of calculation methods for both HRVT and HRVT2. A line is drawn through the straight section of the plot of DFA a1 vs. HR. HRVT is at the intersection of DFA a1 = 0.75 and HRVT2 is at the intersection of DFA a1 = 0.5. (A) Participant with a VO2MAX of 72 mL/kg/min, VT2 at 192 bpm and HRVT2 at 194 bpm. (B) Participant with a VO2MAX of 58 mL/kg/min, VT2 at 179 bpm and HRVT2 at 180 bpm. Points with X are used for linear regression.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Regression plot analysis VT2 HR vs. HRVT2 HR for all participants. Bisection line in light gray. SEE: standard error of estimate; r: Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Bland–Altman analysis VT2 HR vs. HRVT2 HR for all participants. Center line represents the mean difference between each paired value, the top and bottom lines are 1.96 standard deviations from the mean difference.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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