Purpose: Determine if in-season changes in heart rate recovery (HRR) are related to aerobic fitness and performance in collegiate rowers. Methods 22 female collegiate rowers completed testing before and after their competitive season. Body fat percentage (BF%) was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and time to exhaustion (Tmax) were determined during maximal rowing ergometer testing followed by 1 minute of recovery. HRR was expressed absolutely and as a percentage of maximal HR (HRR%1min). Variables were compared using paired Wilcoxon tests. Multivariable regression models were used to predict in-season changes in HRR using changes in VO2max and Tmax, while accounting for changes in BF%. Results: From pre-season to post-season, VO2max and BF% decreased (3.98±0.42 v 3.78±0.35 L/min, p=0.002 and 23.8±3.4 v 21.3± 3.9%, p<0.001, respectively), while Tmax increased (11.7±1.3 v 12.6±1.3 min, p=0.002), and HRR%1min increased (11.1±2.7 v 13.8±3.8, p=0.001). In-season changes in VO2max were not associated with HRR%1min (p>0.05). In-season changes in Tmax were related to changes in HRR%1min (ß=-1.67, p=0.006). In-season changes in BF% were not related to changes in HRR (p>0.05 for all). Conclusion: HRR1min and HRR%1min were faster pre-season to post-season, though the changes were unrelated to VO2max. Faster HRR%1min post-season was inversely related to changes in Tmax. This suggests that HRR should not be used as a measure of aerobic capacity in collegiate rowers, but is a promising measure of training status in this population.
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