SynthesisSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2026
Effects of Exercise on Autonomic Cardiovascular Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026. 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.
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.
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.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of blood flow restriction training on cardiovascular autonomic function in middle-aged and older adults: a meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2026Pooled it
- Dynamic effects of different exercise modalities on autonomic recovery: a longitudinal study based on heart rate variability.European journal of applied physiology · 2026Article
- Differences in acute physiological response to a Qigong exercise among middle-aged adults with varying durations of Qigong practice.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPhysical exercise has been proposed to enhance cardiovascular autonomic function; however, current evidence in older populations remains controversial.
objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effects of physical exercise on autonomic cardiovascular function in older adults.
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect on March 12, 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Two independent reviewers applied the PICOS model to screen randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published since 2010 that investigated the effects of exercise interventions on autonomic cardiovascular function in older adults. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated through random effects models using the Empirical Bayes method. This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250651364).
resultsFifteen RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Exercise interventions significantly increased the root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD) (SMD 0.636, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.014-1.258; p = 0.045) and significantly decreased the low-frequency / high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio (SMD - 0.506, 95% CI - 0.954 to - 0.057; p = 0.027). No significant effects were found for the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) (SMD 0.718, 95% CI - 0.120 to 1.557; p = 0.093) or baroreflex sensitivity (SMD - 0.137, 95% CI - 0.670 to 0.396; p = 0.614). Although substantial heterogeneity was noted, no evidence of publication bias was observed.
conclusionThese results highlight the utility of structured exercise as a nonpharmacological tool to improve autonomic cardiovascular function in older adults, with potential implications for reducing cardiovascular risk and promoting healthy ageing.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.