Spectral analysis of heart rate variability during tennis competitions

A total of 30 licensed tennis players with an average age of 15.73±2.51 years, an average height of 165.80±6.33 cm and an average body weight of 57.20±8.39 kg participated voluntarily in this study conducted to investigate heart rate variability during a tennis match. The study was conducted on synthetic tennis courts during the competition period of the annual training periodization. The athletes' heart rate variability was recorded using a V800 GPS-enabled Polar watch and an H10 chest strap before, during and after the match. Time and frequency axis parameters related to heart rate variability were analyzed with the Kubios HRV Scientific analysis program. While it was determined that there was a significant difference between the pre-competition (BC), during-competition (CE) and postcompetition (CE) RR, HR, RMSSD, PNN50, HRV, SD1, SD2, SD1/SD2, PNS index and SNS index values of the athletes (p<0.05), it was determined that there was no significant difference between the SDNN, NN50 and LF/HF values in terms of BC, ME and MS (p>0.05). As a result, it is seen that athletes experience lower stress before the competition compared to the competition conditions and after the competition, and this stress increases during the competition. The stress levels of athletes remain at the same level during and after the competition. However, it can be said that stress increases slightly after the competition. It can be thought that this is related to the result of the competition. It can be said that competitions put athletes under pressure, and this is due to the increase in blood pressure of athletes physiologically related to the sympathetic nervous system. It is seen that competitions put athletes under stress by 21.9%. Key Words: Heart rate, Psychophysiology, Sports, Tennis