Heart Rate Variability Differences by Match Phase and Outcome in Elite Male Finnish Padel Players

<b>Background:</b> This study aimed to examine changes in heart rate variability (HRV) across three match-related time points (pre-match, during the match, and post-match) and to explore whether these physiological responses differed between winners and losers in competitive padel. <b>Methods:</b> Twelve matches were analyzed, involving 11 high-level Finnish padel players ranked within the national top 24. HRV was recorded before, during, and immediately after each match, with each measurement lasting a minimum of five min. Time-domain (e.g., SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50), frequency-domain (e.g., LF, HF), and non-linear (e.g., SD1, SD2) HRV metrics were extracted for analysis. All matches took place in Tampere, Finland, under controlled conditions. <b>Results:</b> Results revealed significant intra-match fluctuations in HRV across all domains. Moreover, losing players exhibited consistently higher relative heart rate during the match, suggesting greater physiological strain. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study contributes novel evidence on the dynamic nature of autonomic responses in padel and supports the integration of HRV monitoring in performance and recovery management protocols for high-level athletes.