Six databases for the identification of controlled trials were used to conduct the research. These trials dealt with the effects of exercise or sports on the RHR in healthy subjects. The study included any games or activities including aerobic and anaerobic (e.g., high-intensity interval training), endurance (including ball and team sports) or strength training, school sports, yoga, qigong, or tai chi.
Database queries and a thorough screening of 15,992 articles were used initially for the research. After the exclusion of 660 duplicates, 15,332 items remained. The literature search yielded 191 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Ten of these articles presented the same data as shown in another article and therefore, were excluded. Finally, the meta-analytical syntheses for their effects on the RHR included the data of 181 items. These 181 articles encompassed 215 samples:
- 121endurance training
- 43 strength training
- 15 combined endurance and strength training
- Five additional school sports
- 21 yoga
- Five tai chi
- Three qigong
- Two unspecified
All studies came from published articles between 1971 and 2018. Altogether, the research incorporated 12,952 individuals. The sample sizes of these groups ranged from 5 to 1,456 participants. Of the 215 comparisons, 92 included both female and male participants. Sixty-five comparisons only included females and 58 comparisons only included males. Their ages ranged from 6 years old to 81 years old. The exercise sessions lasted an average of 3 times per week for 12 weeks.
This research article concluded that all types of sports/exercising decreased RHR. However, only endurance training and yoga significantly decreased the RHR in both sexes.