Temporal sequence of recovery-related events following maximal exercise assessed by heart rate variability and blood lactate concentration.

Purpose: To analyse the temporal sequence of recovery events related to autonomic nervous system and metabolic processes following maximal exercise, applying linear and nonlinear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood lactate concentration.

Methods: On the following day of the maximum oxygen consumption test, 20 participants firstly lay down for 20 min for resting data collection and then underwent the constant velocity exhaustive test, which consisted in running at 100% of maximal velocity reached on the previous day until exhaustion. Immediately after the end of exercise, the participants kept a supine position for 120 min recovering passively.