HRV-Based Training for Improving VO2max in Endurance Athletes. A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

This review aimed to synthesize evidence regarding interventions based on heart rate variability (HRV)-guided training for VO2max improvements in endurance athletes and address the issues that impact this performance enhancement. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-10, Vol.17 (21), p.7999
Main Authors: Granero-Gallegos, Antonio, González-Quílez, Alberto, Plews, Daniel, Carrasco-Poyatos, María
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Athletes
Citation analysis
Electrocardiography
Endurance
Exercise
Gender
Global health
Heart rate
Intervention
Meta-analysis
Methods
Nervous system
Oxygen consumption
Physical fitness
Physical training
Physiology
Public health
Review
Subgroups
Systematic review
Training
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Summary:This review aimed to synthesize evidence regarding interventions based on heart rate variability (HRV)-guided training for VO2max improvements in endurance athletes and address the issues that impact this performance enhancement. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, the Web of Science Core Collection, Global Health, Current Contents Connect, and the SciELO citation index were searched. Inclusion criteria were: randomized controlled trials; studies with trained athletes enrolled in any regular endurance training; studies that recruited men, women, and both sexes combined; studies on endurance training controlled by HRV; studies that measured performance with VO2max. A random-effects meta-analysis calculating the effect size (ES) was used. Moderator analyses (according to the athlete’s level and gender) and metaregression (according to the number of participants in each group) were undertaken to examine differences in ES. HRV-guided training and control training enhanced the athletes’ VO2max (p < 0.0001), but the ES for the HRV-guided training group was significantly higher (p < 0.0001; ESHRVG-CG = 0.187). The amateur level and female subgroup reported better and significant results (p < 0.0001) for VO2max. HRV-guided training had a small (ES = 0.402) but positive effect on endurance athlete performance (VO2max), conditioned by the athlete’s level and sex.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17217999