| Title | Author | Year | Journal/Proceedings | Study design & Population | Category | Physiological parameter(s) | Insights on findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does Physical Activity Improve Cognition and Academic Performance in Children? A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials | “Ferreira Vorkapic C, Alves H, Ajaujo L, Joaquim Borba-Pinheiro C, Coelho R, Fonseca E, Oliveira A & Dantas EHM “ |
2021 | Neuropsychobiology | Review of scientific literature | Review | The study reviewed and analyzed the studies on acute and chronic physical activity interventions from RCTs on cognitive functions and academic performance of children and adolescents including studies using Firstbeat. | |
| Effects of Different Training Interventions on Heart Rate Variability and Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors in Young and Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review | Grässler B, Thielmann B, Böckelmann I & Hökelmann A | 2021 | Frontiers in Physiology, 12:657274 | Review of scientific literature | Review | HRV | This systematic review provided an overview of the effects of different physical training modalities on resting HRV and cardiovascular health and risk factors (i.e., baroreflex sensitivity, body fat, body mass, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate recovery, VO2 max, and VO2 peak) in young and middle-aged healthy adults. Findings of training studies utilizing Firstbeat were presented. |
| Training-Induced Acute Neuromuscular Responses to Military Specific Test during a Six-Month Military Operation | Pihlainen K, Pesola AJ, Helén J, Häkkinen K, Finni T, Ojanen T, Vaara JP, Santtila M, Raitanen J & Kyröläinen H | 2021 | International Journal of Environtal Research and Public Health, 18 (1), 215 | Longitudinal follow-up design; male soldiers, n = 49 | Applied use | HR | The study assessed acute training-induced changes in neuromuscular and metabolic responses during a high-intensity military simulation test (MST), performed in the beginning and at the end of a six-month crisis-management operation. Firstbeat was used for HR data analysis. |
| Monitoring Training and Recovery during a Period of Increased Intensity or Volume in Recreational Endurance Athletes | Nuuttila O-P, Nummela A, Häkkinen K, Seipäjärvi S & Kyröläinen H | 2021 | International Journal of Environtal Research and Public Health, 18 (5), 2401 | Intervention study; recreational subjects, n = 30 | Applied use | HRV | Firstbeat Bodyguard 2 was used for nocturnal HRV monitoring a study examining the effects of progressively increased training intensity or volume on recovery and performance metrics of recreationally trained persons. |
| Official matches and training sessions: physiological demands of elite junior badminton players | Sales KCG, Santos MAP, Nakamura F, Silvino V, Sena AFDC, Ribeiro SLG, Rodrigues JFC jr, Cabido CET & Mendes TT | 2021 | Motriz: Revista de Educação Física. 27 | Experimental and observational study; elite junior badminton athletes, n = 12 | Applied use | HR; HR zones | The study used Firstbeat Sports for evaluating the intensity of training and official badminton matches (international championship) in junior elite players. |
| Measuring Physical Demands in Basketball: An Explorative Systematic Review of Practices | Russel JL, McLean BD, Impellizzeri FM, Strack DS & Coutts AJ | 2021 | Sports Medicine 51, 81–112 | Review of scientific literature | Validity | The systematic review evaluated the methods and technologies used for monitoring physical demands in competitive basketball athletes including Firstbeat. | |
| Monitoring Individual Sleep and Nocturnal Heart Rate Variability Indices: The Impact of Training and Match Schedule and Load in High-Level Female Soccer Players | Costa JA, Figueiredo P, Nakamura FY, Rebelo A & Brito J | 2021 | Frontiers of Physiology, 12: 678462. | Observational study; female soccer players, n = 34 | Applied use | HR; RR-intervals | HR data during training and matches were recorded and analyzed with Firstbeat Sports, and sleep HRV data with Firstbeat Bodyguard 2 in a study exploring associations of training load with sleep and nocturnal HRV indices in high-level female soccer players throughout a 2-week competitive period. |
| Effects of high-carbohydrate versus mixed-macronutrient meals on female soccer physiology and performance | Wynne JL, Ehlert AM & Wilson PB | 2021 | “European Journal of Appl. Physiology; 121, 1125-1134″ |
Randomized crossover study; Female soccer players, n = 15 | Measurement | HR | Firstbeat HR monitors were used in a study evaluating the physiological and perceptual effects of pre-competition mixed-macronutrient and high-carbohydrate meals in collegiate female soccer players. |
| Physiological and Psychological Responses to Three Distinct Exercise Training Regimens Performed in an Outdoor Setting: Acute and Delayed Response | Benítez-Flores S, Magallanes CA, Alberton CL & Astorino TA | 2021 | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 6 (2): 44 | Randomized crossover design; trained adults, n = 10 | Applied use | HR; HRV | The study used Firstbeat Sports system for analyzing different HR metrics and HRV for comprehensive comparison of acute responses to three time-matched exercise regimens. |
| Heart Rate Variability and Physical Demands of In-Season Youth Elite Soccer Players | Williams RA, Cooper S, Dring KJ, Hatch L, Morris JG, Sunderland C & Nevill ME | 2021 | “Journal of Sport Sciences, Volume 39, 2021, Issue 10″ |
Randomized controlled trial; adolescents, n = 36 | Measurement | HR | Firstbeat Sports system was used for HR measurement when studying the metabolic responses to an acute bout of football and the overall and moderating role of physical fitness on these responses. |
| Effect of acute football activity and physical fitness on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in adolescents | Sánchez-Sánchez J, Botella J, Hernández JLF, León M, Paredes-Hernández V, Colino E, Gallardo L & García-Unanue J | 2021 | Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health | Cross-sectional study; Youth soccer players; n = 17 | Applied use | RR-intervals; HRV | Firstbeat Bodyguard 2 and Firstbeat Sports software was used for studying the associations between external load and nocturnal HRV. |
| The Effects of an Intensive 2-wk Resistance Training Period on Strength Performance and Nocturnal Heart Rate Variability | Kaikkonen P, Hynynen E, Hautala A & Ahtiainen JP | 2020 | International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15 (10): 1448–1454 | Intervention; Young men, n = 13 | Firstbeat Bodyguard was used to collect nocturnal HRV in a study exploring the effects of an intensive 2-wk resistance training period on the nocturnal HRV and strength performance of healthy participants. | ||
| Effect of football activity and physical fitness on information processing, inhibitory control and working memory in adolescents |
Williams RA, Cooper SB, Dring KJ et al. | 2020 | BMC Public Health 20, 1398 | Cross-over design; Adolescents, n = 36 | Applied use | Fitness level with multi-stage fitness test | Firstbeat Team Sport System was used for the assessment of physical fitness in a study exploring |
| Test-retest reliability of TRIMP in collegiate ice hockey players |
Ulmer JG, Tomkinson GR, Short S, Short M & Fitzgerald JS | 2019 | Biology of Sport 36(2): 191–194. | Experimental study; Collegiate male ice-hockey players, n=12 | Applied use | HR; TRIMP | The study explored the utility of the heart rate derived variable TRaining IMPulse (TRIMP) for assessing internal training load in ice hockey players and used Firstbeat Sports for monitoring HR and analyzing TRIMP. |
| Effects of Late-Night Training on “Slow-Wave Sleep Episode” and Hour-by-Hour Derived Nocturnal Cardiac Autonomic Activity in Female Soccer Players |
Costa JA, Brito J, Nakamura FY, Oliveira EM & Rebelo AN | 2018 | International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, ahead of print | Cross-sectional study; Athletes, n = 11 | Applied use | Training Load, RR-intervals | The study used Firstbeat Sports to measure training load and nocturnal Bodyguard 2 measurements to assess recovery in Portuguese female soccer players. The study found that late-night soccer training did not affect HRV during estimated SWS or hour-by-hour, but it elevated heart rate during the first three sleeping hours. |
| Evaluation of occupational physical load during 6-month international crisis management operation |
Pihlainen K, Santtila M, Vasankari T, Häkkinen K & Kyröläinen H | 2018 | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 31 (2), 185-197. | Experimental study; Soldiers, n=79 | Applied use | HR | The aim of this study was to assess changes in soldiers’ body composition, stress biomarkers, physical activity and heart rate responses during a 6-months international crisis management operation. Firstbeat PRO was used to examine individual’s absolute and mean HR for 24-h period. During a calm nature of the operations subjects had no physiological signs of overload. |
| Effects of HRV-Guided vs. Predetermined Effects of Late-Night Training on “Slow-Wave Sleep Episode” and Hour-by-Hour Derived Nocturnal Cardiac Autonomic Activity in Female Soccer Players |
Costa JA, Brito J, Nakamura FY, Oliveira EM & Rebelo AN | 2018 | International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance | Experimental study; Portuguese female football players, n=11 | Applied use | RR-intervals; TRIMP | The study explored the effects of late-night soccer training on nocturnal HRV and used Firstbeat Bodyguard 2 to measure sleep-time HRV and Firstbeat Sports to track training load with TRIMP metric. The study found that late-night soccer training did not seem to affect nocturnal HRV indices when analyzed for estimated slow-wave sleep episode or by hour-by-hour approach in highly-trained athletes. |
| “Behavior of external and internal loads in the preparation of professional soccer players in a competitive microcycle of the Brazilian soccer” |
Pereira J & Lopes M | 2017 | World Conference on Science and Soccer, Rennes, 31.5.- 2.6.2017 | Cross-sectional study; Athletes, n = 21 | Applied use | Training Effect | Firstbeat Sports was used to measure physical load during a one week preparation microcycle before an important match for the team. Training load was lower during practices than in the match. |
| “Physical and Physiological Demands of Recreational Team Handball for Adult Untrained Men” |
Póvoas SCA, Castagna C, Resende C, Coelho EF, Silva P, Santos R, Seabra A, Tamames J, Lopes M, Randers MB & Krustrup P | 2017 | BioMed Research International, Vol. 2017, Article ID 6204603 | Cross-sectional study; Adults, n = 15 | Applied use | RR-intervals | The describtive study examined acute physical and physiological demands of recreational team handball using Firstbeat Sports system. Recreational team handball was found to have a positive effect on aerobic, anaerobic, and musculoskeletal fitness in adult individuals. |
| “Maximal heart rate differs between laboratory and field conditions among female athletes” |
Coutinho C, Watson A, Brickson S & Sanfilippo J | 2017 | Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 12(2), 386-395. | Experimental study; Athletes, n = 21 | Applied use | RR-intervals | Firstbeat Sports was used to measure heart rates in a study which explored if maximal heart rate varies between laboratory testing, field testing, training, competitive matches and an age-predicted equation among female collegiate soccer players. |
| Effects of HRV-Guided vs. Predetermined Block Training on Performance, HRV and Serum Hormones |
Nuuttila O-P, Nikander A, Polomoshnov D, Laukkanen JA & Häkkinen K | 2017 | International Journal of Sports Medicine | Intervention study; Adults, n = 24 | Applied use; validity | Stress and recovery; HRV | Firstbeat HRV-based Quick Recovery Test was used to guide endurance block training, and it was compared to predetermined training. The study found that individually HRV-guided training may provide greater endurance and neuromuscular adaptations and reduce the risk of overtraining. |
| High-intensity endurance training increases nocturnal heart rate variability in sedentary participants |
Nummela A, Hynynen E, Kaikkonen P & Rusko H | 2016 | Biology of sport 33(1): 7-13 | Intervention study; Adults, n = 15 | IApplied use | HRV | Firstbeat method was used during night sleep to investigate the potential of HRV indices for evaluating the training load and training response of sedentary participants in high-intensity endurance training. Nocturnal HFP was found to be a useful method to monitor individual responses to endurance training. |
| Predicting and monitoring individual endurance training adaptation and individualizing training prescription: With endurance performance, cardiac autonomic regulation and neuromuscular performance |
Vesterinen V | 2016 | Academic Dissertation. Studies in sport, physical education and health 248, University of Jyväskylä, Finland | Longitudinal, experimental studies; Recretional athletes, n = 68 | Academic dissertation | HRV | Firstbeat method was used to study usability of cardiac autonomic regulation in predicting and monitoring training adaptations, and individualizing training prescription. Findings suggest that resting HRV shows great potential as a practical tool for monitoring adaptations and individualizing training. |
| Nocturnal heart rate and heart rate variability based training load monitoring, a case study of an elite junior XC Skier during a Glacier Training Camp | Mikkola J, Hynynen E & Nummela A | 2012 | 2nd international Congress on Science and Nordic Skiing, 28-31 May, Vuokatti, Finland | Case study; Junior athlete, n = 1 | Applied use | Stress and recovery; HRV | Firstbeat method seems to be practical tool for assessing training induced stress over an athlete although recovery as well as HR and HRV responses are individual |
| Heart rate variability in prediction of individual adaptation to endurance training in recreational endurance runners | Vesterinen V, Häkkinen K, Hynynen E, Mikkola J, Hokka L & Nummela A | 2010 | Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 23(2): 171-180 | Longitudinal intervention study; Athletes, n = 28 | Applied use | HRV | Firstbeat method was used to analyze nocturnal HRV which may serve as a useful method to assess individual adaptation to prolonged endurance training |
| A three year follow-up study of endurance performance and nocturnal HRV of an international level race-walker | Hynynen E & Nummela A | 2010 | EA innovation awards | Case study; Athletes, n = 1 | Applied use | Stress and recovery | Regular nocturnal HRV analysis with Firstbeat method was utilized for international level race-walkers training and it was found useful for assessing training and racing induced stress and an individual variation in recovery |
| Physical loading, stress and recovery in a youth soccer tournament | Luhtanen P, Nummela A & Lipponen K | 2007 | VIth congress on science in football | Cohort study; Junior athletes, n = 10 | Applied use | EPOC; Stress and recovery | Firstbeat method was applied for soccer in assessing load of matches and training [by EPOC] and recovery during sleep [recovery index] |
| Heart rate and match analysis of Finnish junior football players | Vänttinen T, Blomqvist M, Lehto H & Häkkinen K | 2007 | VIth congress on science in football | Cross-sectional study; Junior athletes, n = 43 | Applied use | EPOC; VO2; Energy expenditure | Match analysis and physiological analysis [HR and EPOC by Firstbeat method] was conducted for junior soccer players in different age groups revealing higher relative playing intensity in older age groups during a match |
| An evaluation of physical loading, recovery and stress in youth soccer | Häyrinen M, Luhtanen P, Juntunen J, Hynynen E, Vänttinen T, Lipponen K & Heliskoski J | 2007 | Science for success II congress | Cross-sectional study; Junior athletes, n = 18 | Applied use | EPOC; Stress and recovery | The study showed that Firstbeat methods work well in team sports and the results revealed that the playing position and characteristics of the match affect significantly to EPOC values, which typically peaked during the first half of the match |
| Practical experiences from measuring exercise intensity and recovery state with heart rate monitoring in team sport | Vänttinen t, Nummela A & Rupf R | 2007 | International Symposium Computer Science in Sport | Cohort study; Athletes, n = 24 | Applied use | EPOC; Stress and recovery | Firstbeat methods were applied into team sports [soccer] and found applicable for following-up of training, quantifying the impact of matches, optimizing preparation, and for teaching players to recognize their overall stress in life |
| A reliable and accurate measuring instrument for performance diagnostics and training control | Wünch A, Schurack O & Schmidt W | 2006 | University of Bayreuth, report | Cross-sectional study; Adult, n = 17 | Validity | VO2; Ventilation, Respiration rate, EPOC | Firstbeat method utilized in Suunto t6 wrist computer is appropriate for performance diagnostics and training control, and might highly contribute to successful training |
| Suunto t6 – ein zuverlässiges und genaues Messgerät zur Leistungsdiagnostik und Trainingssteuerung? Untersuchung zur Validität und Realibilität anhand von Labortests auf dem Fahrradergometer und Feldtests | Wünch A & Schurack O | 2006 | University of Bayreuth, report | Cross-sectional study; Adult, n = 17 | Validity | VO2; Ventilation, Respiration rate, EPOC | Firstbeat method utilized in Suunto t6 wrist computer was shown to be valid and reliable in laboratory and field tests for measuring physiological parameters |
| Examination of Suunto t6 regarding Validity and Reliability | Wünch A, Schurack O & Romann M | 2005 | University of Bayreuth, report | Cross-sectional study; Adult, n = 17 | Validity | VO2; Ventilation, Respiration rate, EPOC | Firstbeat method utilized in Suunto t6 wrist computer provides reliable values during a maximum stress test until exhaustion for ventilation, respiration rate, oxygen consumption and energy expenditure |
| Influence of increased duration or intensity on training load as evaluated by EPOC and TRIMPS | Rusko H | 2004 | ACSM congress | Cross-sectional study; Adult, n = 8 | Validity | EPOC | EPOC can give dynamic information on the training load and allows calculation of time needed for recovery i.e. decrease of EPOC to resting level |
| Pre-prediction of EPOC: A tool for monitoring fatigue accumulation during exercise? | Rusko H, Pulkkinen A, Saalasti S, Hynynen E & Kettunen J | 2003 | ACSM congress | Meta-analysis of 48 peer-reviewed articles; Adult, n = 32 in validation dataset | Validity | EPOC | EPOC can be pre-predicted by using only heartbeat data during exercise |