부산대학교 도서관

Postmenopausal women often encounter risks such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease accompanied with autonomic disorders and exercise training has been proposed as a strategy to improve cardiovascular health. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive tool to assess autonomic nervous system. It has been demonstrated that regular aerobic training improves HRV. On the other hand, high-intensity interval training is getting more popularity and has significant advantages in improving cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition. Yet, studies that systemically reviewed the effect of high-intensity interval training on HRV were sparse in the Chinese literature. Therefore, in the present literature review, we specifically focus on the effects of high-intensity interval exercise training and moderate-intensity continuous training on HRV changes and we sum up that both moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training can increase HRV via improving baroreceptor reflex sensitivity. Increased catecholamine release as the consequence of greater sympathetic nerve activity following high-intensity interval training might be also favorable for body fat reduction and cardiovascular function in a short time. Collectively, it is an effective exercise strategy to maintain or increase HRV for cardiovascular health in postmenopausal population.