Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability during Treadmill Exercise at Various Speeds and Grades

This study was aimed to elucidate the changes in heart rate variability during treadmill exercise at various speeds and grades by spectral analysis. Thirty-three untrained male college students aged $20{\sim}26\;yr $were employed to exercise on a treadmill using 4 speeds (4.02, 5.47, 6.76 and 8.05 km/h) and 6 grades (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20%). A fixed speed was selected for each session with the grade increased every 3 min. The electrocardiogram, respiration and the stepping activity were continuously recorded through an A/D converter system on the computer disk. Power spectra of heart rate variability (RRV) were obtained by use of a fast Fourier transform algorithm. The frequency domain was divided into 3 bands: $VLF\;(0{\sim}0.04\;Hz),\;LF\;(0.04 {\sim}0.15\;Hz)\;and\;HF\;(0.15{\sim}1.00\;Hz).$ Heart rate was $74.4{\pm}2.1\;beats/min$ at rest and showed a steady increase during treadmill exercise with increasing speed and grade up to $196.7{\pm}5.0\;beats/min.$ Total power of HRV was $35.0{\pm}6.7\;(beats/min)^{2}$ at rest and progressively decreased during exercise down to $1.9{\pm}0.3\;(beats/min)^{2}.$ The %VLF power of HRV was $34.5{\pm}3.7\; %$ at rest and showed no significant change during exercise except for a decrease observed at the highest intensity of exercise. The %LF power was $44.1{\pm}3.0\;%$ at rest and showed a progressive decrease down to $4.5{\pm}1.0\;%$ during those stages of exercise where heart rate was over 135 beats/min. The %HF power was $21.4{\pm}2.9\;%$ at rest and showed a progressive increase up to $87.1{\pm}6.7\;%$ during higher intensity exercise where heart rate was over 165 beats/min. Peak frequency of HF band was $0.200{\pm}0.018\;Hz$ at rest and was shifted to higher frequencies up to $0.909{\pm}0.048\;Hz$ at heart rates greater than 135 beats/min. Respiratory frequency was $18.0{\pm}1.5$ breaths/min at rest and significantly increased during exercise up to $53.0{\pm}3.7$ breaths/min. Stride frequency during treadmill exercise showed an increasing tendency with increasing speed from $55.6{\pm}0.9$ steps/min at 4.02 km/h to $81.2{\pm}0.6$ at 8.05 km/h. It was concluded that total power of HRV decreased progressively with increasing exercise intensity due to the withdrawal of parasympathetic activity. At higher exercise intensity, % LF power decreased and %HF power increased with its peak frequency shifted to higher values in a progressive mode with increasing speed and grade, reflecting a readjustment in the cardiovascular system and the increased respiration and its rate, respectively.