Summary
People with ME/CFS take significantly longer for HRV to recover after exercise, with the parasympathetic nervous system failing to activate properly during recovery. This may explain post-exertional malaise.
Methods
Exercise challenge with continuous HRV monitoring
Key Findings
- ME/CFS patients took ~8 minutes for HRV recovery vs controls
- Sympathetic nervous system remained overactivated post-exercise
- Parasympathetic system failed to engage during recovery
- Demonstrates reduced functional capacity for exercise
- May explain post-exertional malaise mechanism
Limitations
Small sample, short exercise challenge
What This Means for You
If you have ME/CFS, HRV monitoring can help identify your recovery capacity. Extended low HRV after activity suggests pacing is needed. Don't resume activity until HRV returns to your baseline.
Source
Read the original paper in Journal of Translational Medicine ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-10