Peter Düking, Christoph Zinner, Khaled Trabelsi, Jennifer L Reed, Hans-Christer Holmberg, Philipp Kunz, Billy Sperlich
Journal: Journal of science and medicine in sport 2021;24(11):1180-1192
PMID: 34489178
Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and endurance performance in response to different predefined training programmes of a specific duration (e.g., 4 weeks) vary widely – from positive, none or even negative adaptations. The aim of this study was to identify relevant scientific literature to compare the various effects of predefined training, with training guided by variations in heart-rate variability (HRV) regarding performance or physiological parameters. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies with a total of nine interventions. Results indicate that training that was adapted in response to changes in HRV, in comparison to predefined endurance training, resulted in a significantly greater medium improvement in submaximal physiological parameters. Furthermore, HRV-based training is more associated with fewer negative and a larger proportion of positive responders. Authors conclude that factors other than training, including psychological stress related to work or academic studies, exert an impact on HRV and, thus, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn on what caused the changes in HRV.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically perform a meta-analysis of the scientific literature to determine whether the outcomes of endurance training based on heart rate variability (HRV) are more favorable than those of predefined training.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
PubMed and Web of Science were searched systematically in March of 2020 using keywords related to endurance, the ANS, and training. To compare the outcomes of HRV-guided and predefined training, Hedges' g effect size and associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
RESULTS
A total of 8 studies (198 participants) were identified comprising 9 interventions involving a variety of approaches. Compared to predefined training, most HRV-guided interventions included fewer moderate- and/or high-intensity training sessions. Fixed effects meta-analysis revealed a significant medium-sized positive effect of HRV-guided training on submaximal physiological parameters (g = 0.296, 95% CI 0.031 to 0.562, p = 0.028), but its effects on performance (g = 0.079, 95% CI -0.050 to 0.393, p = 0.597) and V̇O2peak (g = 0.171, 95% CI -0.213 to 0.371, p = 0.130) were small and not statistically significant. Moreover, with regards to performance, HRV-guided training was associated with fewer non-responders and more positive responders.
CONCLUSIONS
In comparison to predefined training, HRV-guided endurance training had a medium-sized effect on submaximal physiological parameters, but only a small and non-significant influence on performance and V̇O. There were fewer non-responders regarding performance with HRV-based training.
Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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