Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39821813›Full record

SynthesisClinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society2025

High-intensity interval aerobic exercise delays recovery from heart rate variability: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Rodrigo Leal-Menezes, Josianne Rodrigues-Krause, Gabriela Cristina Dos Santos, Jéssica do Nascimento Queiroz, Cassiano Silva da Silva, Daniel Umpierre, Alvaro Reischak-Oliveira

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and exercise-induced autonomic regulation: a systematic review.Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Rodrigo Leal-MenezesExercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 750, Felizardo Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil. rodrigolealdemenezes@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9859-9976
Josianne Rodrigues-KrauseExercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 750, Felizardo Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9791-9325
Gabriela Cristina Dos SantosExercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 750, Felizardo Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7425-1126
Jéssica do Nascimento QueirozExercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 750, Felizardo Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4009-7970
Cassiano Silva da SilvaExercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 750, Felizardo Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil.
Daniel UmpierreExercise Pathophysiology Research Laboratory, Clinical Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 2350, Ramiro Barcelos Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-903, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6953-0163
Alvaro Reischak-OliveiraExercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 750, Felizardo Street, Porto Alegre, RS, 90690-200, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4590-2991

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe present review investigates the responses of heart rate variability indices following high-intensity interval aerobic exercise, comparing it with moderate-intensity continuous exercise in adults, with the aim of informing clinical practice.

methodsSearches were conducted in four databases until March 2023. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials that assessed heart rate variability indices such as the standard deviation of normal-to-normal heartbeat intervals (SDNN), the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), the proportion of the number of pairs of successive normal-to-normal (NN or R-R) intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (NN50) divided by the total number of NN intervals (pNN50), power in high frequency range (HF), power in low frequency range (LF), and LF/HF before and after high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise. The risk of bias in included studies was evaluated using the RoB 2 tool.

resultsA total of 16 studies were included in the systematic review, while 9 were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the majority of included individuals were healthy and young. Our meta-analysis indicated that individuals who performed high-intensity interval exercise showed a slower recovery to baseline levels for HF (standardized mean difference, SMD -0.98 [95% CI -1.52 to -0.44], p < 0.001) and LF (SMD -0.42 [95% CI -0.81 to -0.02], p = 0.04) within the first 10 min of recovery, which did not occur after 1 h. Among the 16 included studies, 10 had some concerns related to bias risk, while 6 were classified as high risk.

conclusionsHigh-intensity interval aerobic exercise results in delayed recovery of HF and LF indices within the first 10 min after the session. However, our review indicates that healthy individuals restore modulation of the autonomic nervous system to baseline levels after this time interval, regardless of exercise intensity.

Indexed as

Autonomic Nervous SystemExerciseHeart RateHigh-Intensity Interval TrainingHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAutonomic nervous systemExerciseHeart rateHigh-intensity interval trainingPost-exercise recovery

Identifiers

PMID39821813

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.