Differences between Elite Male and Female Badminton Athletes Regarding Heart Rate Variability, Arterial Stiffness, and Aerobic Capacity

Ching-Chieh Tai, Yi-Liang Chen, Ludek Kalfirt, Kunanya Masodsai, Chia-Ting Su and Ai-Lun Yang
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Ching-Chieh Tai: Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan
Yi-Liang Chen: Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan
Ludek Kalfirt: Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan
Kunanya Masodsai: Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Chia-Ting Su: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan
Ai-Lun Yang: Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Cardiovascular health and aerobic capacity play crucial roles in determining the performance of athletes in the highly competitive sport of badminton. Few studies have directly compared heart rate variability (HRV), arterial stiffness, and aerobic capacity between male and female athletes, especially among badminton athletes. This study investigated sex differences in HRV, arterial stiffness, and aerobic capacity in badminton athletes. Elite badminton athletes were recruited and divided into male ( n = 20, 21.0 ± 1.8 years old) and female ( n = 16, 21.2 ± 2.3 years old) groups. Both groups performed an incremental treadmill running test for the evaluation of maximal oxygen consumption ( V . O 2 max), anaerobic threshold, and time to exhaustion. They started exercising at a treadmill speed of 2.7 km/h and an inclination of 10% gradient for 3 min, and the speed and inclination were gradually increased every 3 min until they were exhausted or fatigued volitionally. HRV was examined using the Polar heart rate monitor over a period of 5 min at rest in the supine position. Subsequently, the index of arterial stiffness was examined under the same condition. Our results revealed significant differences between the male and female athletes in V . O 2 max (men: 60.38 ± 8.98 mL/kg/min, women: 48.13 ± 7.72 mL/kg/min, p < 0.05), anaerobic threshold (men: 41.50 ± 7.26 mL/kg/min, women: 32.51 ± 6.19 mL/kg/min, p < 0.05), time to exhaustion (men: 902.15 ± 120.15 s, women: 780.56 ± 67.63 s, p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (men: 125.27 ± 7.76 mmHg, women: 107.16 ± 11.09 mmHg, p < 0.05), and arterial stiffness index (men: 63.56 ± 12.55, women: 53.83 ± 8.03, p < 0.05). However, no significant differences in HRV measures were observed between the two groups. These findings suggested that the male badminton athletes demonstrated significantly higher aerobic capacity than did the female athletes, but there were no significant differences in HRV measures. The female athletes exhibited superior arterial function, compared with their male counterparts.

Keywords: heart rate; blood pressure; arterial stiffness index; maximal oxygen consumption; anaerobic threshold; treadmill test; badminton; elite players (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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