Effect of high intensity interval training on heart rate variability and functional capacity of renal transplant recipientes
autonomic nervous system, exercise, kidney transplantation, heart rate variability, functional performance
Introduction: Renal transplant recipients, despite the improvement in quality of life, report a low level of physical activity at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to the general population, as well as functional impairments likely acquired in the pre-transplant period. High intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a useful method in cradiovascular control, taking into account its impact on the sympatho-vagal balance, as well as on functional performance. Objective: To investigate the effects of HIIT on heart rate variability and functional capacity of kidney transplant recipients. Methods: Two volunteers aged 39 and 38 years, renal transplantation time 40 and 36 months, respectively, female biological sex, with biochemical tests within normal parameters, participated in the study. The experimental protocol consisted of 24 sessions distributed in eight sessions of traditional cardiovascular rehabilitation and 16 sessions of HIIT being performed on an ergometric bicycle. Pre- and post-training protocol, HRV collection at rest, in the supine position, using the Polar® cardiofrequency meter and functional performance tests, 6-minute walk test (TW6M) and sit ups in 30 seconds. Results: No adverse events were observed during and after HIIT sessions in volunteers. When completing the 16 sessions of HIIT in the HRV indices, increased in rMSSD (volunteer 1 pre 15,874, post 36,207; volunteer 2 pre 22,651, post 27,115), pNN50 (volunteer 1 pre 0,184, post 15,891; volunteer 2 pre 0,176, post 1,226) and HF (volunteer 1 pre 15,604, post 21,127; volunteer 2 pre 15,604, post 21,127), reflecting vagal stimulus, and reduction in LF (voluntary 1 pre 89,793, post 81,068; volunteer 2 pre 84,391, post 78,859) indicating reduction of sympathetic stimulus. In the functional capacity tests, an increase in values was also found, TW6M (volunteer 1 pre 383m, post 414m; volunteer 2 pre 394m, post490m) and in the sit and stand up in 30 seconds (voluntary 1 and volunteer 2 pre 10 repetitions, after 19 repetitions). In view of the results found, it is intended to expand the sample to better understand the effects of HIIT on kidney transplant recipients.