One-Week Home-Based HRV Biofeedback with Supervised Sessions Versus Passive Relaxation: Effects on Autonomic, Sensorimotor Functions and Kata Performance in Eastern Martial Arts Athletes.

The training group improved on judged routines and some movement measures. The small, short study does not establish lasting performance benefits.

Toloraya N, Kovaleva A, Belousov I, Andreeva A.
Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · Publication date: 2026-02-03
Added to site: 2026-09-12
DOI: 10.3390/sports14020051

Historical addition: first published February 3, 2026, not new September research.

Modalities

HRV, Biofeedback

Clinical focus

Performance, Motor control

Population

High-level martial arts athletes aged 17 to 27

Sample

40 athletes, 20 per group

Intervention / method

Supervised HRV biofeedback plus one week of twice-daily home breathing practice

Comparator

Passive relaxation

Clinician summary

Movement oscillation and blood-volume pulse comparisons favored training. Choice reaction time was not significant. Kata scores improved within the training group, but the abstract does not clearly establish a between-group change advantage.

How to interpret the findings

Randomization, judge blinding, adverse events and longer follow-up were not verified. Home practice was smartphone-guided breathing, not clearly continuous physiological feedback.

Equipment and disclosures

Device details were not verified from the abstract.

Funding and conflicts were not verified from the abstract.

Related evidence

Compare findings from the same clinical area, including mixed results.

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