Heart Rate Variability and Breathing Rate Variability Analysis During Four Limbs Exercise

Abstract

In this study, a four limbs-based exercise equipment was used to examine the effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and breathing rate variability (BRV) during lower limbs, upper limbs, and all four limbs exercise. As a result, a significant reduction of HRV and BRV was observed between the start and the end of each type of exercise. Further comparison between statistics of HRV and BRV information revealed that the minimum coefficient of variance of both HRV and BRV occurred during all limbs exercise, the minimum HRV and BRV were observed during lower limbs exercise and the highest mean of HRV and the highest mean of BRV were detected during upper limbs exercise. Therefore, it is suggested that different variations in HRV and BRV parameters can occur during different types of physical activities which can be useful to distinguish as the lower limbs, upper limbs, or all limbs activities.