Key result
Acute head impact exposure was significantly associated with elevated heart rate at recovery onset (Beta 2.26) and delayed time to peak heart rate recovery.
Why the study?
The association between head impact exposure and heart rate dynamics during varsity football games had not been characterized.
Does head impact exposure alter in-game heart rate dynamics in varsity football athletes?
Observational (n=72)
Yes
Does head impact exposure alter in-game heart rate dynamics in varsity football athletes?
Head impact exposure during football games is associated with altered heart rate recovery dynamics, suggesting cardiovascular recovery could serve as a non-invasive physiological marker of head impacts.
Suggests head impacts may acutely alter cardiac autonomic function in athletes; leaves open long-term CV consequences pending prospective validation.
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Zafar et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Head impact exposure (n=72). Head impact exposure was evaluated on Heart rate at recovery onset (HRstart) (Beta 2.26, p=<0.001). Acute head impact exposure was significantly associated with elevated heart rate at recovery onset (Beta 2.26) and delayed time to peak heart rate recovery.
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