Hypothesis testCardiac Physiology

Heart Rate Recovery

Heart rate recovery (HRR) is the decline in heart rate during the first minutes following maximal or submaximal exercise, reflecting the reactivation of parasympathetic (vagal) tone. Introduced as a clinical predictor by Cole and colleagues (1999), HRR serves as a non-invasive biomarker of cardiac autonomic function and overall cardiovascular health. A rapid decline in heart rate after exertion indicates efficient parasympathetic reactivation and healthy autonomic nervous system balance. Conversely, blunted HRR (slow heart rate recovery) is associated with increased mortality risk, autonomic dysfunction, and poor exercise tolerance.

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Sources

  1. Cole, C. R., Blackstone, E. H., Pashkow, F. J., Snader, C. E., & Lauer, M. S. (1999). Heart-rate recovery immediately after exercise as a predictor of mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 341(18), 1351-1357. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199910283411801
  2. Lauer, M. S., & Okin, P. M. (2005). Heart rate response to exercise stress testing: a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes? Current Problems in Cardiology, 30(7), 357-387. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2005.03.003
  3. Jouven, X., Empana, J. P., Schwartz, P. J., Desnos, M., Courbon, D., & Ducimetière, P. (2005). Heart-rate profile during exercise as a predictor of sudden death. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(19), 1951-1958. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa043012

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Referenced by

ScholarGateHeart Rate Recovery (Heart Rate Recovery and Parasympathetic Reactivation Assessment). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/sports-science/heart-rate-recovery