Heart Rate Recovery Profile And Stress Levels As Parameters For Initial Fatigue Screening In Athletes

Athletes face high physical activity demands, placing them at risk of fatigue due to excessive training loads and inadequate recovery. Fatigue is not solely linked to physiological responses but can also be influenced by psychological factors such as stress. Heart Rate Recovery (HRR) is a simple, non-invasive parameter reflecting the heart's ability to recover after exercise, while the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is used to assess perceived stress levels. This study aimed to describe HRR and stress levels and to analyze the relationship between HRR and PSS scores among athletes. A descriptive quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was employed. The study was conducted between July and August 2026, involving 24 athletes aged 16–26 years. HRR was measured following controlled submaximal exercise with passive recovery and calculated as the difference between peak heart rate and heart rate during the recovery phase. Stress levels were assessed using the PSS. Data were analyzed descriptively, and the relationship between HRR and PSS scores was tested using Spearman correlation. The results showed that the majority of athletes fell into the normal HRR category, while six athletes were in the abnormal category. Regarding stress levels, the moderate category was the most prevalent. Correlation analysis revealed a very weak negative relationship between HRR and PSS scores (r = −0.019), which was not statistically significant (p = 0.931; n = 24). Thus, no significant relationship was found between HRR and perceived stress levels in the athletes. As HRR and PSS provide distinct physiological and psychological information, their combined use has the potential to serve as part of athlete health screening