IMR Press / RCM / Volume 25 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2501009
Open Access Systematic Review
Effect of Exercise Modality on Heart Rate Variability in Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
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1 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ningbo College of Health Sciences, 315100 Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
2 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Linfen Central Hospital, 041000 Linfen, Shanxi, China
3 School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, 100084 Beijing, China
*Correspondence: lfsyl8865@126.com (Yali Shi); qingshen126@126.com (Chen Wang)
These authors contributed equally.
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2024, 25(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2501009
Submitted: 19 May 2023 | Revised: 5 August 2023 | Accepted: 22 August 2023 | Published: 9 January 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to use a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the effects of aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT), combined training (CBT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on adult heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, the Web of Science, Wanfang Data, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure to identify randomized controlled trials on the effects of exercise on HRV in adults. The search was conducted from the outset of these databases to April 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the retrieved articles, extracted raw data from the relevant studies, and assessed the possible risk of bias in the included studies. Results: The NMA showed that HIIT had the greatest effect on the low-frequency (LF) power/high-frequency (HF) power ratio, standard deviation of normal–normal intervals (SDNN), and root mean square of successive differences between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD) (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) = 99.75%, 98.7%, and 84.9%); CBT had the greatest effect on the LF power (SUCRA = 66.3%); RT had the greatest effect on the HF power (SUCRA = 72.5%). Conclusions: Our NMA and SUCRA ranking results suggest that in adults, HIIT is the most effective exercise modality in improving the SDNN, RMSSD, and LF/HF power ratio; RT for the HF power; CBT for the LF power. Any NMA conducted in the future must fully explore the effects of different exercise modalities on HRV in adult subgroups of different ages and genders. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=424054, identifier: CRD42023424054.

Keywords
exercise
adults
heart rate variability
network meta-analysis
Funding
2020045/Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Figures
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