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

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 I2 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.

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Influence of aerobic fitness on the correspondence between heart rate variability and ventilatory threshold

Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte ◽

10.11606/1807-5509202000040555 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 555-566

Author(s):

Lúcio Flávio Soares-Caldeira ◽

Carla Cristiane da Silva ◽

Priscila Chierotti ◽

Nicolle de Souza Dias ◽

Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Visual Inspection ◽

Ventilatory Threshold ◽

Vagal Modulation ◽

Maximum Workload ◽

Progressive Exercise ◽

The Relationship

The aims of this study were to verify the correspondence between heart rate variability (HRV) and ventilatory thresholds during a progressive exercise test and the relationship with low and high aerobic fitness levels. Twenty male volunteers (29.5±6.2 years; 75.9±13.0 kg; 175.0±7.4 cm) were recruited. The subjects were allocated to two groups according to their VO2max <48.8 ml•kg−1•min−1 (low cardiorespiratory fitness group) (n=10) and >48.81 ml•kg−1•min−1 (high cardiorespiratory fitness group) (n=10). A progressive test was performed, consisting of 3-min stages beginning at 25 watts and increasing by 25 watts every 3-min. The HRV threshold (HRVT) and ventilatory threshold (VT) analyses were performed through visual inspection. The comparisons with RMSSD values in percentage of maximum workload resulted in a higher effect size (ES) than the SDNN values. The VO2 in the high cardiorespiratory fitness group at VT (+32%), HRVTRMSSD (+27%), and HRVTSDNN (+31%) was signifi cantly higher compared to the group with low cardiorespiratory fitness. Higher values were observed for relative load (W•kg-1) at VT and HRVTSDNN in the high cardiorespiratory fitness group in comparison with the low cardiorespiratory fitness group (P<0.05), but no difference for VT and HRVTRMSSD. Signifi cant correlations between at VT and HRVTSDNN (r=0.77) were found only in the low cardiorespiratory fitness group. Cardiorespiratory fitness should be regarded as a factor for HRVT evaluation. The HRVTSDNN was closer to the VT in the low cardiorespiratory fitness group than the HRVTRMSSD, however, the use of vagal modulation assessed using the HRV parameter was more sensitive to observe possible differences regarding cardiorespiratory fitness.

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Influence of aerobic fitness on the correspondence between heart rate variability and ventilatory threshold

Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte ◽

10.11606/issn.1981-4690.v34i4p555-566 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 555-566

Author(s):

Lúcio Flávio Soares-Caldeira ◽

Carla Cristiane da Silva ◽

Priscila Chierotti ◽

Nicolle de Souza Dias ◽

Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Visual Inspection ◽

Ventilatory Threshold ◽

Vagal Modulation ◽

Maximum Workload ◽

Progressive Exercise ◽

The Relationship

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A preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on heart rate variability and respiration of athletes

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1515/jcim-2020-0528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey Cayaban Pagaduan ◽

Yung-Sheng Chen ◽

James William Fell ◽

Sam Shi Xuan Wu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Academic Research ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Quantitative Review ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Randomized Control

Abstract To date, there is no quantitative review examining the influence of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BFB) on the athlete population. Such an undertaking may provide valuable information on the autonomic and respiration responses of athletes when performing HRV BFB. Thus, purpose of this preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of HRV BFB on HRV and respiration of athletes. Searches of Springerlink, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PROQUEST Academic Research Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were conducted for studies that met the following criteria: (1) experimental studies involving athletes that underwent randomized control trial; (2) availability of HRV BFB as a treatment compared with a control (CON)/placebo (PLA); (3) any pre and post HRV variable and/or breathing frequency as dependent variable/s; and, (4) peer-reviewed articles written in English. Four out of 660 studies involving 115 athletes (25 females and 90 males) ages 16–30 years old were assessed in this review. Preliminary findings suggest the promising ability of HRV BFB to improve respiratory mechanics in athlete population. More work is needed to determine the autonomic modulatory effect of HRV BFB in athletes.

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Effect of Acupuncture on Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/819871 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Joanne W. Y. Chung ◽

Vincent C. M. Yan ◽

Hongwei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

High Frequency ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Keyword Search ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Control Group

Aim.To summarize all relevant trials and critically evaluate the effect of acupuncture on heart rate variability (HRV).Method.This was a systematic review with meta-analysis. Keyword search was conducted in 7 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction and risk of bias were done.Results.Fourteen included studies showed a decreasing effect of acupuncture on low frequency (LF) and low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio) of HRV for nonhealthy subjects and on normalized low frequency (LF norm) for healthy subjects. The overall effect was in favour of the sham/control group for high frequency (HF) in nonhealthy subjects and for normalized high frequency (HF norm) in healthy subjects. Significant decreasing effect on HF and LF/HF ratio of HRV when acupuncture was performed on ST36 among healthy subjects and PC6 among both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, respectively.Discussion.This study partially supports the possible effect of acupuncture in modulating the LF of HRV in both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, while previous review reported that acupuncture did not have any convincing effect on HRV in healthy subjects. More published work is needed in this area to determine if HRV can be an indicator of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.

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