The reaction of cardiorespiratory system to physical activity of hockey players

The aim is to determine the aerobic body capacities and the reaction of arterial blood pressure in hockey players to the physical load of maximum aerobic power. Materials and methods. The research covered 15 ice hockey players aged 18-20 with qualifications starting from 2nd rang up to Candidate Master of Sports, and it was carried out in the competitive period of a training cycle. Measurement of systolic (sABP) and diastolic (dABP) arterial blood pressure (ABP) was performed prior to testing and after it (in a two-minute time interval). We determined absolute and relative indicators of maximum oxygen consumption (MOC); ventilatory threshold 1 (VT) as one of the indicators of aerobic-anaerobic transition; oxygen consumption (OC) when reaching VT; respiratory exchange ratio (RER); depth, frequency, and respiratory minute volume (RMV), heart rate (HR) at VT and at the moment of reaching MOC. Results. The standard response of sABP to physical activity is typical for the majority of hockey players, however, there are a large number of «adverse» changes in dABP (р=0.016), which probably relates to the competitive period of the training cycle. At the same time, it is reasonable to assume that adverse reaction of ABP (i.e. Δ dABP) may relate to the body weight of hockey players – correlation of body mass index with this abnormal reaction is r=0,67 (p=0,007). The indices of MOC relative value stayed within the average values for this kind of sport, and they were equal to 56±7,21 ml/kg/min. It is important to note that the observed hockey players had a linear correlation between the indices of maximum oxygen consumption and the indices of oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold 1. Conclusion. During competitive period of the training cycle, some of the hockey players demonstrated adverse reactions of ABP to load, which may be a consequence of fatigue or negative changes in the cardiac activity of athletes because of high-intensity exercises. Relative MOC indicators stayed within the average values for this kind of sport.

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