Normative data in resting and maximum heart rates and a prediction equation for young Tunisian soccer players

a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Hatem Ghouili Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9558-5448
  • Zouhaier Farhani Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2181-5159
  • Sofiene Amara Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia; Research Unit (UR17JS01) Sports Performance, Health & Society, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saîd, Universite de la Manouba, Tunis, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0118-2235
  • Soukaina Hattabi Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5275-1098
  • Amel Dridi Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1727-7255
  • Noomen Guelmami Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia; Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4959-9726
  • Anissa Bouassida Research Unit, Sportive Performance and Physical Rehabilitation, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0971-0183
  • Nicola Bragazzi Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), York University, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8409-868X
  • Ismail Dergaa Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Doha, P.O. Box 26555, Qatar. Tel: + 97466633683, E-mail: Phd.dergaa@gmail.com; idergaa@phcc.gov.qa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8091-1856

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2023-6215

Keywords:

maximum heart rate, resting heart rate, prediction equation, percentile curves, soccer players

Abstract

Heart rate (HR) is an important indicator of work intensity during physical activity. Maximum heart rate (MHR) is a physiological measure that is frequently used as a benchmark for maximal exercise intensity. The aim of this study was to establish reference curves for maximum heart rate (MHR) and resting heart rate (RHR) and to develop an estimated equation for Tunisian adolescent footballers. The study involved 801 adolescent players, aged 11 to 18, who belonged to five Tunisian first-division soccer teams. The LMS method was used for smoothing the curves and the multivariate linear regression to develop a prediction equation of MHR. Our results showed that MHR and RHR reference curves decrease with age.  The values of the median curves of MHR and RHR ranged from 208.64 bpm (11 years) to 196.93 (18 years) and 73.86 (11 years) to 63.64 (18 years), respectively. The prediction equation obtained from the model was MHR= 225.08 – 1.55 X Age (years) (R2 = 0.317; P < 0.001; standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 5.22). The comparisons between the estimated values and the measured values have found that our model (- 0.004 ±5.22 bpm) was to be more accurate than two other widely known models. BOX's equation underestimates the measured MHR values by -3.17 ± 5.37 bpm and TANAKA's equation overestimates by + 4.33 ±5.5 bpm. The reference curves can be used by coaches and physical trainers to classify the resting heart rate (RHR) and maximum heart rate (MHR) of each adolescent player, track their evolution over time, and design tailored training programs with specific intensities for Tunisian soccer players.

Additional Files

Published

2023-07-17

How to Cite

Ghouili, H., Farhani, Z., Amara, S., Hattabi, S., Dridi, A., Guelmami, N., … Dergaa, I. (2023). Normative data in resting and maximum heart rates and a prediction equation for young Tunisian soccer players: a cross-sectional study. EXCLI Journal, 22, 670–680. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2023-6215

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