Heart Rate Variability-Guided Training for Enhancing Cardiac-Vagal Modulation, Aerobic Fitness, and Endurance Performance: A Methodological Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Agustín Manresa-Rocamora, José Manuel Sarabia, Alejandro Javaloyes, Andrew A. Flatt and Manuel Moya-Ramón
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Agustín Manresa-Rocamora: Sports Research Centre, Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
José Manuel Sarabia: Sports Research Centre, Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Alejandro Javaloyes: Sports Research Centre, Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Andrew A. Flatt: Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus), Savannah, GA 31419, USA
Manuel Moya-Ramón: Sports Research Centre, Department of Sport Sciences, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-22

Abstract: Purpose: This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to establish whether heart rate variability (HRV)-guided training enhances cardiac-vagal modulation, aerobic fitness, or endurance performance to a greater extent than predefined training while accounting for methodological factors. Methods: We searched Web of Science Core Collection, Pubmed, and Embase databases up to October 2020. A random-effects model of standardized mean difference (SMD) was estimated for each outcome measure. Chi-square and the I 2 index were used to evaluate the degree of homogeneity. Results: Accounting for methodological factors, HRV-guided training was superior for enhancing vagal-related HRV indices (SMD + = 0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09, 0.91)), but not resting HR (SMD + = 0.04 (95% CI = ?0.34, 0.43)). Consistently small but non-significant ( p > 0.05) SMDs in favor of HRV-guided training were observed for enhancing maximal aerobic capacity (SMD + = 0.20 (95% CI = ?0.07, 0.47)), aerobic capacity at second ventilatory threshold (SMD + = 0.26 (95% CI = ?0.05, 0.57)), and endurance performance (SMD + = 0.20 (95% CI = ?0.09, 0.48)), versus predefined training. No heterogeneity was found for any of the analyzed aerobic fitness and endurance performance outcomes. Conclusion: Best methodological practices pertaining to HRV index selection, recording position, and approaches for establishing baseline reference values and daily changes (i.e., fixed or rolling HRV averages) require further study. HRV-guided training may be more effective than predefined training for maintaining and improving vagal-mediated HRV, with less likelihood of negative responses. However, if HRV-guided training is superior to predefined training for producing group-level improvements in fitness and performance, current data suggest it is only by a small margin.

Keywords: autonomic nervous system; parasympathetic activity; heart rate recovery; resting heart rate; cardiorespiratory fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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