Physical training programme based on research into heart rate variability in civil aviation pilots
ˑ:
PhD, Associate Professor G.I. Semenova1
PhD, Associate Professor I.V. Erkomayshvili1
Postgraduate student A.V. Solomyannyy1
1Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Ekaterinburg
Objective of the study is to identify a unified approach to analysing the physical condition of civil aviation pilots and developing an optimal physical training programme aimed at improving flight safety.
Methods and structure of the study. An analysis was conducted of the most informative heart rate variability indicators for assessing the functional state of pilots, including time domain metrics such as: SDNN – Standard Deviation of NN intervals (the average value of variability in milliseconds, reflecting heart rate variability over a certain period of time), RMSSD – Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (a metric showing the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and reflecting changes in the duration of intervals between heartbeats), frequency domain: LF/HF – Low Frequency/High Frequency, and specific Russian indices: Baevsky index (regulatory system stress index), RSAI (regulatory systems adaptation index).
Results and conclusions. The scientific work was carried out using the Varicard 3.0 system. 42 active civil aviation pilots of the Russian Federation aged 25 to 40 participated in the study, randomly divided into an experimental group (n=21) and a control group (n=21). The experimental group used a specially developed physical training programme lasting two months, after which a significant improvement in heart rate variability indicators was observed. The control group showed no significant changes in the same indicators. As a result of the study, a universal method for assessing the physical condition of pilots and a structured training programme for improving physical condition with the aim of increasing flight safety were developed.
Keywords: civil aviation pilots, heart rate variability, physical fitness, stress index, physical condition.
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