Summary
Daily HRV monitoring shows high sensitivity (95%) for detecting meaningful changes in the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio during training interventions, suggesting HRV can serve as a proxy for hormonal balance.
Methods
9-week high-intensity functional training intervention
Key Findings
- HRV had 95% sensitivity for detecting T:C ratio changes
- Higher HRV associated with favorable hormonal balance
- Changes in HF power correlated with T:C ratio
- Specificity was low (5%), limiting diagnostic use alone
Limitations
Small sample, high-intensity training context only
What This Means for You
Your HRV may reflect hormonal balance, particularly during intense training periods. Consistently low HRV could indicate unfavorable cortisol/testosterone ratios. Use HRV alongside subjective recovery markers.
Source
Read the original paper in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-10