Pigozzi, F., Alabiso, A., Parisi, A., Di Salvo, V., Di Luigi, L., Spataro, A., & Iellamo, F. (2001). Effects of aerobic exercise training on 24 hr profile of heart rate variability in female athletes. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 41, 101-107.

Healthy female athletes were recruited during a period of yearly rest and randomly assigned to a five-week aerobic exercise training program (N = 13) or non-exercise control group (N = 13). Heart rate measures were taken during a cycle ergometer test before and after the exercise period.

The aerobic training group showed a reduced heart rate response to submaximal workload. There was no difference in resting HR or HR variability between the groups after the experiment. Changes in the heart beat characteristics were noted for the trained group. The heart beats became more consistent. Variability between the lowest and highest HR during night sleep was less in the trained than in the control group.

Implication. Heart beat forms become more consistent after a period of aerobic training. As well, heart rates become more consistent during night time sleep.

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