Technological solutions for the study of variability in heart rate, stress and recovery

The term heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the time interval between heartbeats. Because this time interval is not fixed, but rather fluctuates constantly, bringing to bear the right mathematic analysis on these fluctuations can yield highly valuable information on how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) acts in its role of controlling heart functioning. HRV analysis provides information on any situation that may interfere with homeostatic balance in our bodies, with variations associated with the presence of certain pathologies. In the field of sport training, given that physical exercise can cause physiological stress, changes in HRV have been associated with the assimilation of training loads and with certain conditions linked to overtraining syndrome. Technological advances have provided solutions for the analysis of HRV. Thus, this article presents some scientific software options that can be used to conduct in-depth analyses of the dynamics of HRV, as well as several mobile apps that have been taking on greater and greater roles in this area of the world of sport training.