Acute Effect of a Flywheel Exercise on Cardiac, Hemodynamic, Autonomic, and Neuromuscular Responses - Abstract
Flywheel (FW), apparatus is a non-gravity-dependent exercise system that has been proposed to increase eccentric workload and skeletal muscle strength. The acute effect of FW exercise on cardiac, hemodynamic, autonomic, and neuromuscular responses remains scarce. The present study aimed investigate the heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), HR variability (HRV), and vertical jump performance (VJ), following a FW exercise. The effort consisted of 4 sets x 12 repetitions on the half squat exercise executed with 3 flywheel rotations and 1-min of intervals between sets. HR was assessed during all experimental session. BP and VJ were assessed pre and immediately 5-, 20-, and 35-min post-exercise. HRV was evaluated by root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), at rest, 20-, and 35-min post-exercise. The ANOVA one way was applied followed by Bonferroni´s post hoc test if necessary. The FW moderately improved the cardiac and hemodynamic stress with a concomitant reduction on HRV. The VJ performance was not significantly affected at 5-min post FW exercise, but was impaired at 20-min and remained reduced until 35-min post-exercises. In conclusion, the FW induced a moderate stress in cardiac and hemodynamic responses followed by a decrease in the HRV. In addition, the FW impaired the jumping ability at 20- and 35-min of passive recovery. These findings are important to better comprehend the physiological responses of a FW exercise.