Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and High–Intensity Exercise

INTRODUCTION: Recently, many new ways of physical training focusing on health promotion and higher performance have been articulated. So, high intensity training has been spotlighted as the best way to improve physical aptitude and to optimize cardiorespiratory and metabolic functions. We intended to describe high intensity training protocols and their effects on cardiac autonomic regulation. METHODS: The studies were selected in the databases PubMed, Medline, Scielo and Lilacs. The keywords cited were: Exercise, Autonomic Nervous System, Cardiovascular System, which were defined based on the MeSH. RESULTS: The selected articles presented vagal withdrawal and increase in the sympathetic modulation during the exercise protocols. It highlighted cardiovascular overload and thus, increases in arterial pressure and heart rate, improving cardiovascular endurance over time. CONCLUSION: The practice of exercise affects the cardiac autonomic modulation according to the level of intensity and volume advocated.