Resting heart rate decreases significantly with endurance training. The increase in stroke volume, means that for every heart beat, more blood is pumped from the heart to the working body systems. So the heart is being more efficient, and therefore does not have to beat as often to release the blood volume required.
Studies have shown that resting heart rate decreases by approximately one beat per minute for each week in the first few weeks of endurance training, and highly trained athletes can have resting heart rates between 30-40 beats per minute.
During submaximal exercise, trained athletes will have significantly lower heart rates for the same amount of work. This is shown in the following graph, comparing heart rate response during exercise in both trained and untrained subjects:
Studies have shown that resting heart rate decreases by approximately one beat per minute for each week in the first few weeks of endurance training, and highly trained athletes can have resting heart rates between 30-40 beats per minute.
During submaximal exercise, trained athletes will have significantly lower heart rates for the same amount of work. This is shown in the following graph, comparing heart rate response during exercise in both trained and untrained subjects:
In addition to lower resting and working heart rates, following training, heart rates will also recover to resting levels at a faster rate.
These changes suggest that the heart becomes more efficient with training, and a result of increased stroke volume and decreased heart rate is that the heart can release a maximal quantity of oxygenated blood at a lower energy cost to the body.
These changes suggest that the heart becomes more efficient with training, and a result of increased stroke volume and decreased heart rate is that the heart can release a maximal quantity of oxygenated blood at a lower energy cost to the body.