Effects Of A 4-week Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy On Heart Rate Variability In Elite Skeleton Athletes

Purpose: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a new method of fatigue recovery and is being used more and more in the field of fatigue elimination.In this study,the influence of 4-week hyperbaric oxygen intervention on heart rate variability(HRV)indexes,HRV-related hematological indexes and athletic ability indexes of elite Skeleton athletes was investigated,and the intervention effect was analyzed and evaluated,so as to provide theoretical and practical basis for the means and methods of fatigue elimination.Methods: Research subjects for 14 national Skeleton athletes(7 men and 7 women athletes),paired grouping athletes be divided into hyperbaric oxygen group(3 men and4 women)and the control group(3 men and 4 women).This study was conducted offseason in 2020.The hyperbaric oxygen group received hyperbaric oxygen intervention(1.3ATA,60 minutes)4 times a week for 4 weeks,while the athletes in the control group received passive rest recovery without additional intervention conducted.During the intervention,HRV,HRV-related hematological indexes and athletic ability indexes of the athletes were tested.Results:1.Changes of heart rate variability:(1)The RMSSD and HF n.u.in the hyperbaric oxygen group did not significantly change before and after 4 weeks of hyperbaric oxygen intervention,but was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).(2)The LF/HF in the hyperbaric oxygen group changed significantly after 4 weeks of intervention,and in the hyperbaric oxygen group was significantly higher after intervention than before intervention,and the hyperbaric oxygen group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).(3)The LF n.u.in the hyperbaric oxygen group did not significantly change before and after 4 weeks of hyperbaric oxygen intervention,but was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).(4)There was no significant difference in TP,SDNN between the two groups in the baseline,week 2 and week 4.2.Changes of HRV-related hematologic indexes:(1)The CK in the hyperbaric oxygen group did not significantly change before and after 4weeks of hyperbaric oxygen intervention,but was significantly lower than that in the control group(P < 0.05).(2)There was no significant difference in BU,RBC,HGB,HCT,WBC,T,C and T/C between the two groups in the baseline,week 2 and week 4.3.Changes of HRV-related athletic capacity indexes: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the 40 m sprint performance and the lactate value in the baseline and week 4.Conclusion:(1)The 4-week hyperbaric oxygen intervention has a positive effect on the recovery of exercise-induced fatigue and has a good effect on the elimination of fatigue.(2)The 4-week hyperbaric oxygen intervention can affect the athletes' heart rate variability positively,improve the parasympathetic activity of athletes,and promote the balance and regulation ability of the autonomic nervous system.