Biomedical subjects

Véronique Billat

Publications and source records attributed to Véronique Billat.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effect of a 24-h continuous walking race on cardiac autonomic control.

This study investigated the relationships between walking speed and heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) in eleven subjects during a 24-h race. It was hypothesized that the nycthemeral rhythm on HR is preserved during the race. RR intervals and walking speed were measured. Fast Fourier transform was applied to samples of 1,024 successive RR intervals collected every hour from a HR monitor. Walking speed was averaged every hour and decreased (first lap: 8.8 +/- 0.3 vs. last lap: 7.3 +/- 0.8 km h(-1), P < 0.001) with HR also decreasing (max at 19:00 h: 143 +/- 9 vs. min at 7:00 h: 117 +/- 14 beats min(-1), P < 0.001) following a third order polynomial shape. HRV power spectral components followed distribution patterns similar to the mean RR during the race with a minimum in the early evening (19:00-20:00 h) and a maximum in the morning (5:00-8:00 h). Thus, as for mean RR, spectral components over time are also fitted to a third order polynomial regression. LF/HF ratio increased linearly (min = 0.5 +/- 0.3, max = 2.8 +/- 5.3, P = 0.02). Although mean HF peak did not decrease significantly over time, it was positively correlated with walking speed. In conclusion, this study showed that despite a constant decrease in walking speed, HR circadian rhythm is preserved during a continuous 24-h walking race. The short-term HRV components remain linked to HR whereas the LF/HF ratio increases linearly until the end of the race whatever HR is.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Objective and subjective analysis of the training content in young cyclists.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the objective and subjective training for young cyclists that is prescribed by their coaches. Seven cyclists performed an incremental exercise to exhaustion before and after 14 weeks of training using an incremental test to determine their maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2) (max)), the velocity associated with VO(2) (max) (vVO(2) (max)), and the velocity associated with the ventilatory threshold (vVT). Cyclists completed a training record with the actual content and the perceived exertion of each training session during these 14 weeks. We have focused on the actual content of the training prescribed by the coaches. Analysis of the content of each session allowed us to calculate the objective training load (volume at different intensities) and to determine the subjective training load from perceived exertion ratings (training load, monotony, strain, and fitness-fatigue). The results showed that cyclists were training at a relatively low intensity and that training rating of perceived exhaustion was weak. Moreover, after 14 weeks of training, VO2 max did not change whereas vVO(2) (max) and vVT increased significantly. Therefore, a discrepancy may exist between what is perceived during training and the effects of training. Consequently, objective and subjective indices collected from training books provided useful information supplementary to that recorded from the physiological indices alone.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Exercise training in normobaric hypoxia in endurance runners. I. Improvement in aerobic performance capacity.

This study investigates whether a 6-wk intermittent hypoxia training (IHT), designed to avoid reductions in training loads and intensities, improves the endurance performance capacity of competitive distance runners. Eighteen athletes were randomly assigned to train in normoxia [Nor group; n = 9; maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) = 61.5 +/- 1.1 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)] or intermittently in hypoxia (Hyp group; n = 9; VO2 max = 64.2 +/- 1.2 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)). Into their usual normoxic training schedule, athletes included two weekly high-intensity (second ventilatory threshold) and moderate-duration (24-40 min) training sessions, performed either in normoxia [inspired O2 fraction (FiO2) = 20.9%] or in normobaric hypoxia (FiO2) = 14.5%). Before and after training, all athletes realized 1) a normoxic and hypoxic incremental test to determine VO2 max and ventilatory thresholds (first and second ventilatory threshold), and 2) an all-out test at the pretraining minimal velocity eliciting VO2 max to determine their time to exhaustion (T(lim)) and the parameters of O2 uptake (VO2) kinetics. Only the Hyp group significantly improved VO2 max (+5% at both FiO2, P < 0.05), without changes in blood O2-carrying capacity. Moreover, T(lim) lengthened in the Hyp group only (+35%, P < 0.001), without significant modifications of VO2 kinetics. Despite similar training load, the Nor group displayed no such improvements, with unchanged VO2 max (+1%, nonsignificant), T(lim) (+10%, nonsignificant), and VO2 kinetics. In addition, T(lim) improvements in the Hyp group were not correlated with concomitant modifications of other parameters, including VO2 max or VO2 kinetics. The present IHT model, involving specific high-intensity and moderate-duration hypoxic sessions, may potentialize the metabolic stimuli of training in already trained athletes and elicit peripheral muscle adaptations, resulting in increased endurance performance capacity.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2004

Heart rate variability during exercise performed below and above ventilatory threshold.

PURPOSE: To examine whether differences in heart rate variability (HRV) can distinguish sub- from supra-ventilatory-threshold exercise and whether the exercise duration at supra-threshold intensity alters cardiorespiratory synchronization. METHODS: Beat-to-beat RR interval, VO2, VCO2, VE, and blood lactate concentration of 11 healthy well-trained young subjects were collected during two exercise tests: 1) a moderate-intensity test: 15 min performed below the power at ventilatory threshold (pVT); and 2) a heavy-intensity test: above pVT until exhaustion. Fast Fourier transform, smoothed pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution, and complex demodulation were applied to RR time series. RESULTS: 1) Moderate exercise shows a prevalence of low-frequency (LF) spectral energy compared with the high-frequency (HF) one (LF = 80 +/- 10% vs HF = 20 +/- 10%, P < 0.001), whereas the reverse is observed during heavy exercise (LF = 11 +/- 8% vs HF = 89 +/- 8%, P < 0.001). 2) During heavy exercise, the HF amplitude and the tidal volume (Vt) remained constant, whereas the breathing frequency (BF) increased (BF: 0.70 +/- 0.18 vs 0.93 +/- 0.31, P < 0.01) and mean RR decreased (342 +/- 15 vs 317 +/- 16, P < 0.01). Despite the RR series and the breathing signal remaining synchronized, HR/BF ratio decreased and stabilized at 3 RR for one breathing cycle, whatever the initial ratio. CONCLUSION: 1) HRV allows us to differentiate sub- from supra-ventilatory-threshold exercise and 2) exercise duration at supra-threshold intensity does not alter the cardiorespiratory synchronization.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

[Effect of 4 weeks of training on the limit time at VO2 max].

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 4 weeks training in running on the time spent at VO2max (tlim VO2max). Eight athletes carried out, before and after an aerobic training, an incremental and five exhaustive tests at 90, 95, 100, 115% vVO2max and at the critical power at VO2max (CV'; slope of the linear relation between the tlim VO2max and the distance limit at VO2max). This training did not significantly improve VO2max (p = 0.17) or tlim VO2max (p = 0.72). However, the "tlim VO2max-intensity" curve was shifted toward the right, meaning that the athlete had to run at a higher intensity after training to obtain the same tlim VO2max. Tlim VO2max at CV' before training was significantly higher than tlim VO2max at 90, 95, 100, and 115% vVO2max (p < 0.05). This training increased CV' in absolute value (13.9 +/- 1.3 vs. 14.9 +/- 1.2 km.h-1, p < 0.05; n = 6) but not in relative value (86 +/- 4 vs. 86 +/- 5% vVO2max; p = 0.9). In conclusion, in spite of the shift of the "tlim VO2max-intensity" curve, tlim VO2max was not significantly increased by this training. Furthermore, CV' allowed subjects to spend the longest time of exercise at VO2max during a continuous exercise with constant speed, but CV', expressed in % vVO2max, did not improve with this training.

Adult↗