Table 2 Values of heart rate and heart rate variation delta (∆) obtained in all groups at rest, at peak of cardiopulmonary test and during recovery.

78 ± 12

69 ± 10^a

55 ± 4^a,b

< 0.001

181 ± 12

181 ± 8

181 ± 9

0.975

163 ± 14

155 ± 10^a

148 ± 12^a,b

0.001

141 ± 16

131 ± 16

122 ± 14^a

0.001

128 ± 15

121 ± 15

111 ± 10^a,b

< 0.001

91 ± 12

90 ± 11

84 ± 9

0.118

89 ± 12

88 ± 11

83 ± 9

0.117

83 ± 10

79 ± 9

72 ± 7^a,b

< 0.001

− 18 ± 6.3

− 26 ± 5.6^a

− 32 ± 11^a,b

< 0.001

− 40 ± 11

− 49 ± 14^a

− 58 ± 12^a,b

< 0.001

− 52 ± 10

− 60 ± 12^a

− 69 ± 9^a,b

< 0.001

− 90 ± 11

− 91 ± 9

− 96 ± 10

0.149

− 91 ± 12

− 93 ± 9

− 98 ± 11

0.141

− 96 ± 9

− 101 ± 7

− 108 ± 6^a,b

< 0.001