# Yoga vs. Static Stretching: Recovery Impact on Male Athletes' Post-HIIT Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate Variability Analysis

PMID: 39917587
Journal: International Journal of Exercise Science
Published: 2025-01-01
Authors: Petviset H, Pakulanon S, Rusmeeroj S, Rukdang B

## Question

Does yoga improve acute post-HIIT recovery markers more than static stretching in male athletes?

## Summary

In 20 young male athletes, a 15-minute yoga recovery session after treadmill HIIT reduced respiratory rate and improved HRV recovery more than 15 minutes of static stretching. Heart-rate and blood-pressure recovery did not show significant intervention-by-time differences.

## Population

- Young male football club athletes.
- Sample size: 20
- Age: 20.95 +/- 0.99 years
- Sex: Men
- Fitness level: Athletes
- Health status: Apparently healthy

## Methodology

- Crossover acute recovery study
- Two acute recovery trials with 5-day washout
- University athlete testing setting
- Controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Post-HIIT yoga recovery.
- Modality: Treadmill HIIT followed by yoga.
- Work intervals: 1 min running.
- Recovery: 1 min walking during HIIT; yoga recovery after session.
- Sets or repetitions: 12 intervals plus 15 min yoga.
- Intensity: 85% HRmax work, 50% HRmax walking recovery.
- Session duration: About 44 min including recovery.
- Frequency: Acute crossover trial.
- Program length: Single trial per recovery method.
- Progression: None.
- Post-HIIT static stretching.
- Modality: Treadmill HIIT followed by static stretching.
- Work intervals: 1 min running.
- Recovery: 1 min walking during HIIT; stretching recovery after session.
- Sets or repetitions: 12 intervals plus 15 min static stretching.
- Intensity: 85% HRmax work, 50% HRmax walking recovery.
- Session duration: About 44 min including recovery.
- Frequency: Acute crossover trial.
- Program length: Single trial per recovery method.
- Progression: None.

## Outcomes

### Respiratory rate
Status: improved
Yoga produced lower respiratory rate than stretching at 5, 10, and 15 min recovery.

Time by intervention F(5,190)=8.825, p<0.001.

### HRV
Status: improved
Yoga improved SDNN more than stretching at 5 and 10 min recovery.

Time by intervention F(5,190)=3.751, p=0.003.

### HR/BP
Status: no clear change
Heart rate and systolic/diastolic blood pressure did not show significant intervention-by-time interactions.

HR p=0.797; SBP p=0.635; DBP p=0.352.

## Practical Insights

- A short structured yoga cooldown may improve acute parasympathetic recovery markers after HIIT.
- The evidence is about acute physiology, not long-term performance or injury outcomes.

## Limitations

- Small male athlete sample
- Acute-only design
- Surrogate recovery outcomes
- No passive or walking active control
- Potential effects of yoga unfamiliarity and stretching familiarity

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events or injuries were reported.
- PAR-Q and musculoskeletal/neurologic exclusions were used.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39917587/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.70252/SPMN2268) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11798559/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.