Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine · Published 2026-01-01 · DOI 10.18276/cej.2026.1-08
Introduction: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) and heart rate variability (HRV) are important physiological indicators of both cardiovascular fitness and autonomic nervous system regulation in exercise science. This study aimed to examine the effect of aerobic fitness on cardio-vagal adaptation in young adults. Methods: Thirty-five physically active university students (23.89±1.64 years), with a minimum of four years of regular exercise participation were included in this study. VO₂ max was assessed using a graded treadmill test and HRV indices were obtained from ECG recordings using LabScribe and Kubios software. Pearson’s correlation with Bonferroni-adjusted was performed for statistical analysis. Results: No significant correlations were observed between VO₂ max and time-domain HRV indices SDNN(r=0.177, p=0.309); pNN50(r=0.198, p=0.254) and NN50(r=-0.340, p=0.846), while RMSSD(r=0.340, p=0.045) showed weak to moderate positive association. In contrast, significant correlations were found with frequency-domain indices, including HF power (r=0.450, p=0.006) and LF power (r=-0.450, p=0.006) and LF/HF ratio (r=- 0.449, p=0.006). Conclusion: These findings indicate that regular aerobic exercises associated with improved parasympathetic modulation and enhanced cardio-autonomic balance in young adults.
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