Summary
With 30% of young athletes experiencing overtraining, HRV monitoring can help detect early warning signs before burnout or injury occurs. Coaches can use HRV to optimize training loads for developing athletes.
Methods
Review of HRV applications in youth sports
Key Findings
- About 30% of young athletes experience overtraining
- Reduced HRV may signal overreaching before symptoms
- HRV helps optimize training loads for young athletes
- Burnout is primary reason for youth sports attrition
- AI models integrating HRV show promise for risk prediction
Limitations
Age-appropriate norms still being established
What This Means for You
Parents and coaches of young athletes should consider HRV monitoring to prevent overtraining. Declining HRV trends warrant reduced training loads, especially during growth spurts and school stress periods.
Source
Read the original paper in Pediatrics (AAP) ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-10