Cardio-electrical and blood pressure characteristics during recovery following very intense exercise in martial arts athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v78.118822Keywords:
Martial Arts, Heart Rate, Electrocardiogram, Post-Exercise Hypotension, Recovery, Oxygen Saturation.Abstract
Background. Martial arts, characterized by intermittent high-intensity efforts, generate specific cardiovascular constraints. Few studies have examined post-exercise cardio-electrical and hemodynamic responses in this context, particularly during the recovery phase.
Objective. This study aimed to analyze variations in heart rate (HR), blood pressure (systolic: SYS, diastolic: DIAS), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and electrocardiographic parameters (PR, QT, QRS, QTc, RV5, SV1) in martial arts practitioners before, immediately after, and up to 30 minutes following an intense bout of exercise.
Methods. Twenty-four male athletes performed a high-intensity session simulating competition (≥85% HRmax). Physiological measurements were collected at four time points (rest, end of exercise, and 15- and 30-minute recovery). A repeated-measures ANOVA and a factorial analysis were performed.
Results. Significant post-exercise hypotension was observed (SYS: −11.33% at 30 min; DIAS: −14.63% at end of exercise). HR doubled at the end of effort (138 bpm), with partial recovery by 30 minutes. QT interval shortened and then progressively normalized. SpO₂ showed a slight decrease (−1.28%) before rising again. Factorial analysis identified clusters of interrelated variables.
Conclusion. Martial arts induce specific transient cardio-electrical responses. These findings highlight the importance of individualized recovery monitoring for both performance optimization and cardiovascular prevention.
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