心率變異量(heart rate variability, HRV)常被用來偵測運動員之疲勞發生的情形,預防運動傷害產生。然而,過去棒球相關研究多著重於周邊肌肉疲勞現象之探討,並且多使用自覺用力係數來判別疲勞狀況,相較局部肌肉之變化及自覺用力係數,使用HRV可量化球員疲勞變化更能瞭解球員整體之狀況。因此,本研究目的以HRV偵測成棒甲組投手經歷春季聯賽後疲勞之變化。前驅研究招募6位投手,於春季聯賽期間分為季前、季中以及季末3個時間點進行量測。量測內容包含HRV(其參數為均方根連續差的自然對數:natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive differences [LnRMSSD])、Hooper自覺疲勞問卷 (Hooper index questionnaire),並記錄投球局數及總投球數。研究結果顯示:HRV之參數LnRMSSD於季前和季中及季前和季末皆有顯著下降。Hooper自覺疲勞問卷於賽季前後,皆無統計上之差異。LnRMSSD於賽季期間之變化與投球局數及總投球數為低度相關。本研究結論認為投手於賽季末HRV有下降之現象,推測球員整體生心理上有疲勞之趨勢。相較主觀的問卷量測使用HRV更能得知球員賽季期間生心理疲勞之狀況。
Heart rate variability (HRV) is often used to detect the fatigue of athletes because it represents the scientific data on the state of athlete's autonomic nervous system to prevent sports injuries. However, previous baseball-related studies mostly focused on local muscle fatigue, in which they used the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale to represent the level of fatigue of pitchers. Using HRV to investigate the level of fatigue is a more objective method to evaluate the overall state of the players, rather than looking at the changes in local muscles and RPE. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the application of HRV to determine the fatigue state among adult baseball class-A pitchers through a spring league. This preliminary study recruited 6 pitchers to detect the fatigue changes before and after the spring league. The assessments were divided into three-time points: pre-season, mid-season, and end-season. The time of measurements was the time after the end of the training on the non-match day. The measurements included HRV (the natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive differences [LnRMSSD]), the Hooper index questionnaire, the innings and total pitched by each player were recorded during the season. Results showed that the LnRMSSD was significantly different between pre-season and mid-season, and also between pre-season and end-season. We found that HRV values were decreased in mid-season and end-season compared with pre-season. There were no statistically significant differences in the scores of the Hooper index questionnaire before and after the baseball spring season. Nevertheless, a modest correlation was noticed between the LnRMSSD and innings, as well as the LnRMSSD and total balls pitched. In conclusion, the pitcher's HRV would decrease at the end of the season, but the player's subjective fatigue response didn't change after the season. These results inferred that it was difficult for players to judge the changes in fatigue state by themselves. Baseball players' fatigue state should be measured in objective ways, such as assessment of heart rate variability.