Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the general population higher levels of exercise capacity seem to protect the cardiovascular system with effects well beyond traditional risk factors. We hypothesize that this phenomenon, called "risk factor gap", could be ascribed to functional components, such as autonomic adaptation to aerobic training. METHODS: In 257 subjects (age 36.2±0.8 years) we measured VO2peak (incremental cycling exercise), together with arterial pressure and autonomic proxies (baroreflex gain, R-R variance and standing induced increase in marker of excitatory oscillatory regulation of the SA node, ALFRRnu). RESULTS: Autonomic proxies appeared significantly correlated with indicators of aerobic fitness (age and gender corrected correlation between VO2peak, baroreflex gain: 7=0.277, P2peak (poor, medium and good). Autonomic indices and arterial pressure appeared significantly ordered with categories of VO2peak (P
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 794-801 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 6 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 1 2016 |
Keywords
- Autonomic nervous system
- Baroreflex
- Heart rate
- Physical exercise
- Prevention
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation