Problem statement The relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) indicators and athletic performance is a subject of interest in sports science. However, few studies have explored the differences in HRV parameters between high-level athletes and athletes without significant sport success, impeding our understanding of the physiological characteristics associated with sport performance. Approach A cross-sectional study was conducted involving two groups: high-level athletes (Group A) and athletes without sport success (Group B). HRV assessment was performed on 33 athletes using the Varicard 2.51 complex to measure HRV parameters. Time domain and spectral analyses were employed to calculate and compare HRV parameters between the two groups. Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional state features of athletes as an indicator of sport success. Results Significant differences in HRV parameters were found between Group A and Group B athletes. Group B athletes exhibited higher mean values in Standard deviation (SDNN), Stress Index (SI), Index of activity of regulatory systems (IRSA), high-frequency power (HF), and low-frequency power (LF), indicating increased autonomic regulation, tension in regulatory systems, and heightened activation of the autonomic nervous system. Conversely, Group B athletes displayed lower mean values in very low-frequency power (VLF), suggesting reduced activity in thermoregulation and energy exchange centers. Independent t-tests revealed significant differences in IRSA, NArr, and VLF parameters, with Group B showing pronounced tension in regulatory systems, and decreased activity in thermoregulation and energy exchange centers. Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of analyzing HRV when assessing an athlete's functional state and understanding physiological characteristics associated with different levels of sport success. Athletes without significant sport success exhibit distinct differences in autonomic regulation, parasympathetic activity, thermoregulation, and energy exchange compared to high-level athletes. These findings underscore the potential impact of sport success on athletes' physiological responses and highlight the need for HRV monitoring and individualized training approaches. Further research is required to explore underlying mechanisms and develop interventions to enhance the performance of athletes without sport success.
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