Heart Rate Variability Applications in Strength and Conditioning: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Integrative Physiology
• Sports Science
• Autonomic Neuroscience

Background:

• Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic function, is increasingly tracked by wearables in fitness and sports.
• A gap exists between HRV research and its practical application in strength and conditioning (S&C) settings.
• Wearable technology adoption necessitates evidence-based guidelines for HRV integration into S&C.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on HRV application in strength and conditioning.
• To propose preliminary, evidence-based guidelines for using HRV in S&C.
• To bridge the gap between HRV research and practical S&C implementation.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was conducted.
• Searched for studies combining HRV and strength and conditioning.
• Focused on studies utilizing time-domain HRV measurements.

Main Results:

• HRV effectively assesses training status, adaptability, and recovery post-training.
• Reduced HRV may indicate overreaching or overtraining but is less sensitive in aerobic athletes.
• HRV-guided training programming shows potential utility over fixed protocols.

Conclusions:

• HRV is a valuable tool for monitoring athletes in strength and conditioning.
• Its utility differs across athletic populations, requiring tailored application.
• Further research is essential to establish best practices for HRV integration in S&C.