Journal of Applied Physiology AJP: Cell Physiology
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J Appl Physiol (May 1, 2008). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00150.2008
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Submitted on February 7, 2008
Accepted on April 24, 2008

Fractal scaling properties of heart rate dynamics following resistance exercise training

Kevin S Heffernan1*, Jacob J. Sosnoff2, Christopher Andrew Fahs1, Kevin K Shinsako1, Sae Young Jae3, and Bo Fernhall4

1 Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States
2 Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States; United States
3 Sports Informatics, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
4 College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: kheffer2{at}uiuc.edu.

With aging and disease, there is a breakdown of the natural fractal-like organization of heart rate (HR). Fractal-like correlation properties of HR can be assessed with detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). A short-time scaling exponent ({alpha}s) value of 1 is associated with healthy HR dynamics while values that deviate away from one, in either direction, indicate fractal collapse. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of resistance exercise training (RT) on fractal correlation properties of HR dynamics. Resting ECG was collected at baseline, following a 4-week time control period and 6-weeks of RT (3 days per week) in thirty-four men (23 ± 1 years of age). Fractal properties of HR were assessed with DFA. There was no change in {alpha}s following either the time control period or RT (1.01 ± 0.06 to 0.98 ± 0.06 to 0.93 ± 0.04, p>0.05). Given the potential bi-directional nature of fractal collapse, subjects were retrospectively separated into two groups (higher {alpha}s and lower {alpha}s) based on initial {alpha}s using cluster analysis. An interaction was detected for &#945;s following RT (p<0.05). There was no change in {alpha}s in either group following the time control but &#945;s increased following RT in the lower {alpha}s group (n=18: 0.73 ± 0.04 to 0.69 ± 0.04 to 0.88 ± 0.04) and {alpha}s decreased following RT in the higher {alpha}s group (n=16: 1.20 ± 0.04 to 1.24 ± 0.04 to 0.98 ± 0.04). In conclusion, RT improves fractal properties of HR dynamics.







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