RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AEROBIC CAPACITY AND POST-EXERCISE HEART RATE RECOVERY IN ELITE BOXERS

Marsida Bushati, Sead Bushati, Anesti Kostani

Abstract


Aerobic fitness and cardiovascular recovery are important determinants of performance in combat sports. Among physiological indicators, maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) and heart rate recovery (HRR) are widely used to evaluate athletes' conditioning status and adaptation to training. Understanding the relationship between these variables may provide valuable information for optimizing boxing performance and training prescription. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between aerobic capacity and post-exercise heart rate recovery in elite boxers and to examine potential gender differences in these physiological variables. Methods: Twenty elite boxers (10 females and 10 males), all competing at the national level, participated in this cross-sectional study. Aerobic capacity was assessed through maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) using an incremental treadmill protocol combined with a COSMED K5 portable metabolic system. Heart rate responses were continuously monitored throughout testing. Heart rate recovery was calculated as the difference between maximal heart rate and heart rate recorded one minute after exercise cessation. Independent-samples t-tests were used to compare physiological variables between genders. Results: Male boxers demonstrated significantly higher VO₂max values (56.8 ± 4.2 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) compared with female boxers (48.2 ± 3.5 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; p = 0.001). No significant gender differences were observed in maximal heart rate (192 ± 5 vs. 188 ± 6 bpm; p > 0.05). However, female athletes showed significantly greater heart rate recovery (28 ± 5 bpm) than males (24 ± 4 bpm; p = 0.045). These findings suggest gender-related differences in aerobic fitness and recovery characteristics among elite boxers. Conclusions: Elite male boxers exhibit superior aerobic capacity, whereas female boxers demonstrate more efficient post-exercise cardiovascular recovery. Monitoring both VO₂max and HRR may provide useful information for training individualization and performance optimization in boxing.

Keywords


boxing, VO₂max, heart rate recovery, aerobic fitness, gender differences, cardiovascular adaptation

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v13i5.6824

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