Identification of anaerobic threshold by analysis of heart rate variability during discontinuous dynamic and resistance exercise protocols in healthy older men

The purposes of this study were to determine anaerobic threshold (AT) during discontinuous dynamic and resistive exercise protocols by analysing of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood lactate (BL) in healthy elderly subjects and compare the cardiovascular, metabolic and autonomic variables obtained from these two forms of exercise. Fourteen elderly (70 ± 4 years) apparently healthy males underwent the following tests: (i) incremental ramp test on cycle ergometer, (ii) one repetition maximum (1RM) leg press at 45°, (iii) a discontinuous exercise test on a cycle ergometer (DET‐C) protocol and (iv) a resistance exercise leg press (DET‐L) protocol. Heart rate, blood pressure and BL were obtained during each increment of exercise intensity. No significant differences (P>0·05) were found between methods of AT determination (BL and HRV) nor the relative intensity corresponding to AT (30% of maximum intensity) between the types of exercise (DET‐C and DET‐L). Furthermore, no significant differences (P>0·05) were found between the DET‐C and DET‐L in relation to HRV, however, the DET‐L provided higher values of systolic blood pressure and BL (P<0·05) from the intensity corresponding to AT. We conclude that HRV was effective in determination of AT, and the parasympathetic modulation responses obtained during dynamic and resistive exercise protocols were similar when compared at the same relative intensity. However, DET‐L resulted in higher values of blood pressure and BL at workloads beyond AT.