Abstract

The aim of this study was to present inter-individual differences in the reaction of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity to the same training program, and to thereby support the importance of individual training in team sports during the conditioning period. Methods: 18 ice hockey players, separated into two groups, were tested. The first group (S1) was composed of 8 players (age 18.0 ± 0.7 years) of a junior ice hockey team. The second group (S2) consisted of 10 players (age 26.7 ± 3.8 years) who were members of an adult ice hockey team. The spectral analysis of heart rate variability (SA HRV) in the orthoclinostatic stimulation was used for the ANS activity assessment. The results of the SA HRV examinations were interpreted by the complex index of the total score (TS), the complex index of vagal activity (VA), the complex index of sympathovagal balance (SVB) and the age-standardized values of the total spectral power (PT). The SA HRV examination took place regularly twice a week over two months of conditioning. Results: The SA HRV monitoring mostly revealed significant differences in the level of the ANS activity among the players. A number of junior and adult players (P6, P9, P15, and P16) were characterized by almost permanently high ANS activity whereas other players (P4 and P12) occurred below the ANS activity level of healthy individuals. Conclusion: Based on the evidence of relevant differences in ANS activity, the training efficiency (overreaching and injury reduction) can be positively influenced by creating training groups of players with similar ANS activity. In this sense the coach can make a training program easier if the team consists of players with high ANS activity. Consequently, constructing a sports team based on ANS activity monitoring could play a significant role. Verf.-Referat