Heart rate recovery normality data recorded in response to a maximal exercise test in physically active men.

Abstract

Background. Despite a growing clinical interest in determining the heart rate recovery (HRR) response to exercise, the limits of a normal HRR have not yet been well established. Purpose. This study was designed to examine HRR following a controlled maximal exercise test in healthy, physically active adult men. Methods. The subjects recruited (n=789) performed a maximal stress test on a treadmill. HRR indices were calculated by subtracting the 1st and 3rd minute heart rates during recovery from the maximal heart rate obtained during stress testing and designated these as HRR-1 and HRR-3, respectively. The relative change in HRR was determined as the decrease in HR produced at the time points 1 min and 3 min after exercise as a percentage of the peak HR (%HRR-1/HRpeak and %HRR-3/HRpeak, respectively). Percentile values of HRR-1 and HRR-3 were generated for the study population. Results. Mean HHR-1 and HHR-3 were 15.24±8.36 bpm and 64.58±12.17 bpm, respectively and %HRR-1/HRpeak and %HRR-3/HRpeak were 8.60±4.70% and 36.35±6.79%, respectively. Significant correlation was detected between Peak VO2 and HRR-3 (r=0.36; p<0.001) or %HRR-3/HRpeak (r=0.23; p<0.001). Conclusions. Our study provides normality data for heart rate recovery following a maximal ergometry test obtained in a large population of physically active men.