Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Effect of Practicing Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on the Performance of Elite Shooters

Document Type : Original research

Authors
Sayyed Hossein Hosseiny 1
Mohammad VaezMousavi 2
1 Ph.D. Student in the Department of Motor Behavior Central Tehran Branch Islamic Azad University Tehran Iran.
2 Professor, School of Social and Cultural Sciences, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22089/spsyj.2022.12104.2281
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of practicing heart rate variability biofeedback on the performance of elite shooters.

Methods: Eleven air rifle 10-meters shooters volunteered to participate in the study. After the preliminary test, 10 subjects with a score of more than 600 were included in the study as available samples. The results of the initial record were considered as a pre-test and then the shooters were divided into experimental and control groups each consisting of five participants. The experimental group first participated in three sessions of heart rate regulation and then in five sessions of shooting practice with emphasis on respiration sinus arrhythmia before each shot. The control group performed five sessions of shooting practice similar to the usual exercises. Both groups then participated in the shooting post-test and transfer test. The shooting tests were performed according to the regulations of the official shooting competitions.
Results: The results of one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that the performance of shooters in the experimental group in the post-test and transfer test was significantly increased. The results showed that biofeedback training leads to RSA learning and intensifies HRV in skilled athletes. Also, by quantifying the physiological mental state, it is possible to improve athletic performance and transfer it to real sports conditions.

Conclusion: In addition, the findings of this study may be explained through the law of effect. However, more research is needed to accept that the content of these exercises is consistent with the requirements of assignment.
Keywords
Heart rate
Respiration
Resonant frequency
Athletic performance
Shooting

Subjects

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Sport Psychology Studies
Volume 15, Issue 55
Spring 2026
Pages 130-144

  • Receive Date 13 January 2022
  • Revise Date 21 June 2022
  • Accept Date 28 June 2022