Test–Retest Reliability of Heart Rate and Parasympathetic Modulation Indices Across Exercise and Recovery Phases in Athletes
Sensors, cilt.26, sa.8, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 26 Sayı: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/s26082448
- Dergi Adı: Sensors
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Anahtar Kelimeler: autonomic nervous system, exercise recovery, heart rate variability, parasympathetic modulation, RMSSD, soccer players, test–retest reliability, wearable sensors
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study examined the within-session (same-day) test–retest reliability of heart rate (HR) and parasympathetic modulation, assessed using the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), across exercise and recovery phases in trained soccer players. Twenty-seven male soccer players (age: 24.9 ± 3.7 years) completed a standardized soccer training session. HR and RMSSD were recorded using an ECG-based chest-strap monitor at rest, pre-exercise, and at ~10–20 min, 1 h, and 3 h post-exercise. At each time point, two consecutive 5 min seated recordings were obtained under identical conditions. Test–retest reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(3,1)), standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV%), minimal detectable change (MDC95), paired-samples t-tests, and Hedges’ g effect sizes. HR demonstrated excellent reliability across all time points (ICC = 0.980–0.994; SEM = 0.87–1.25 bpm; CV% = 1.33–3.70%). RMSSD showed excellent reliability at rest (ICC = 0.944) and pre-exercise (ICC = 0.918), moderate reliability during early recovery (~10–20 min; ICC = 0.551), and good reliability at 1 h (ICC = 0.826) and 3 h post-exercise (ICC = 0.873). No significant systematic differences were observed between test and retest measurements (all p > 0.05), and effect sizes were trivial. These findings indicate that within-session reliability of HR remains consistently high across exercise and recovery phases, whereas RMSSD reliability varies according to measurement timing, particularly during early recovery.