The use of heart rate reserve to monitor soccer-specific exercises

Aim. The aim of the study was to verify whether the percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR) is equivalent to the percentage of oxygen uptake reserve (%V̇O2R) also during soccer-specific exercises characterized by intermittent pattern. Methods. Seven male amateur soccer players were involved in the study (age 25.3±1.2 yrs, body mass 72.9±2.1 kg, height 176.1±2.5 cm; mean±SD). They performed three trials on the field at increasing intensities (moderate, high and very high) of a soccer-specific endurance path and, on a different day, an incremental test on a treadmill in the laboratory. Results. The mean slope (1.04±0.06) and intercept (0.01±0.01) of %HRR versus %V̇O2R relationship were not significantly different from the coefficient representing the line of identity (0 and 1, respectively; P<0.05). On the contrary, the mean slope (1.17±0.08) and intercept (-0.12±0.03) of %HRR versus %V̇O2max relationship were significantly different from 0 and 1, respectively (P<0.05). The slope and the intercept of the two regression lines were different (P<0.05). Conclusion. The results of the present study indicate that %HRR is equivalent to %V̇O2R, suggesting that the use of %HRR could be an accurate reference tool to characterize and prescribe exercise intensities during soccer activities.