Maastoharjoituksesta palautuminen - Firstbeat Technologies

AbstractAuthorTitleNumber of PagesDateSampsa KauttoRecovery from Field Training: Observing Stress and RecoveryBefore and After Field Training44 pages + 5 appendicesSpring 2012DegreeBachelor of Health CareDegree ProgrammePhysiotherapyInstructor(s)Senior Lecturer, Tiina KarihtalaSenior Lecturer, Ulla HärkönenIn Finland the military service is possible to be accomplished as a conscript in SpecialForces. The progressive service that lasts for one year is physically and mentally challenging.It is important that there is a balance between hard training and recovery. This is arequirement for increasing physical performance. If the training is not hard enough, thereis no possibility to develop. There is also a chance of overreaching and overtraining. Thisis a result from too much stress or too little recovery time. In this case the result is decrementof performance.The thesis was carried out co-operation with The Finnish Border Guard. The purpose ofthis thesis was to observe the stress of a Special Force soldier during field training and therecovery from it. Heart rate variability was measured before, during and after the fieldtraining. The measurements were made with Suunto Memory Belt and Firstbeat Bodyguard.The data was analyzed with Firstbeat HEALTH. The nocturnal heart rate variabilitymeasured from the night before field training was compared to the measures of two nightsafter training. The values are averages of the group.On the first night after the field training a clear change was seen in values of heart rate,absolute stress vector, absolute relaxation vector and RMSSD. On the second night afterthe field training all the values returned back to the start level. A significant difference wasfound in heart rate before and after the training (p=0,001).Based on this study, heart rate, absolute stress vector, absolute relaxation vector andRMSSD are useful values of observing stress and recovery in group level. However, differencesbetween individuals are big. The estimates of subjective feelings about personalstress and recovery levels correlated quite well with the measured heart rate variables.Keywordsheart rate variability, physical performance, overtraining,overreaching