Key result
HRV indices are linked to physical and psychological overtraining symptoms in adult soccer players.
Why the study?
To determine whether there is a correlation between heart rate variability indices and overtraining symptoms in soccer players.
Is there a correlation between heart rate variability indices and overtraining symptoms in adult soccer players?
Systematic Review (n=19)
Is there a correlation between heart rate variability indices and overtraining symptoms in adult soccer players?
Heart rate variability indexes, particularly time and frequency domain characteristics, are linked to overtraining symptom markers such as physical performance and psychological aspects in adult soccer players.
HRV monitoring may aid overtraining detection in soccer players; leaves open causality and practice change pending prospective trials.
This systematic review aims to determine if there is a correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) indices and overtraining symptoms (OTS) in soccer players. Conforming to PRISMA guidelines, a search was conducted in February 2024 on Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SCOPUS. Studies published in English investigating the relationship between HRV parameters and OTS in adult soccer players (>18 years) were included. Accepted study designs were randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, longitudinal studies, prospective studies, cross-sectional studies, and retrospective studies. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. The search identified 2041 articles, with 19 included postscreening. Most studies examined the correlation between HRV and OTS using linear indices. The average JBI checklist score was 6.3, indicating fair methodological quality. Thirteen studies showed a relationship between linear HRV parameters and OTS, linked to performance/clinical tests, training load, adaptation, fatigue, recovery, or hormonal markers. Thirteen correlations involved HRV frequency domain parameters, and 28 involved HRV time domain characteristics. HRV indexes were linked to OTS markers such as physical performance and psychological aspects in soccer players. Standardization in research methodologies, addressing confounding factors, and exploring additional indexes are crucial in the future.
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Lipka et al. (2025) conducted a systematic review in Overtraining symptoms in soccer players (n=19). Heart rate variability (HRV) indices was evaluated on Correlation between HRV indices and overtraining symptoms (OTS). Heart rate variability indices were linked to overtraining symptom markers, such as physical performance and psychological aspects, in 13 of 19 included studies of adult soccer players.
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