{"id":9664,"date":"2021-01-16T06:00:31","date_gmt":"2021-01-16T05:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=9664"},"modified":"2021-01-15T14:13:14","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T13:13:14","slug":"mobile-app-review-hrv4training-training-monitoring-at-your-fingertip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2021\/01\/16\/mobile-app-review-hrv4training-training-monitoring-at-your-fingertip\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile App Review: \u201cHRV4Training\u201d. Training monitoring at your fingertip"},"content":{"rendered":"

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HRV4Training<\/em> is a scientifically validated mobile App<\/em> designed for Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) assessment using photoplethysmography technology (1). HRV4Training<\/em> allows monitoring daily variations and weekly trends of HRV, providing feedback related to training status and readiness. Furthermore, integrating other variables, such as training load and heart rate, by means of other GPS-related apps (i.e.: Strava or TrainingPeaks), it automatically estimates VO2max and lactate threshold. Interestingly, it also allows recordings related to quality of recovery such as sleep quantity and quality, alcohol ingestion, soreness, session RPE and mental tiredness among others, which are also introduced as a part of the algorithm to determine the above mentioned training status, but also fatigue and injury risk. Thus, this app can help: 1) to determine training status, 2) to individualise the training load and 3) to identify potential injury risk factors in athletes. In summary, HRV4Training <\/em>is a simple, valid, and user-friendly pocket-lab of great interest in the context of sport performance and health, which \u200bprovides advanced data analytics on the relation between physiological parameters, training and performance (2).<\/p>\n

USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daily HRV measurements have been proven as a powerful tool to manage training load but also to avoid overtraining (3). A reduction in HRV has been linked to a higher sympathetic tone related with a maladaptive process associated to a poorly tolerated and excessive training load (4). Therefore, using HR4Training<\/em> we can accurately monitor training-related physiological adaptations integrating internal and external load together with recovery-related variables that are key for athlete\u2019s performance. An unlimited number of trials can be stored, allowing longitudinal comparisons. This is valuable information to prevent training-related injuries and\/or overtraining due to long-lasting high levels of fatigue. \u00a0This type of assessment may be also used in different clinical settings, such as for cardiac rehabilitation exercise-based programmes, to monitor the effects and prognosis related to the training interventions. Therefore, athletes, coaches, patients and physicians could quantitatively monitor progress and obtain or provide feedback without complex and expensive equipment.<\/p>\n

PROS<\/strong><\/p>\n