Biofeedback de la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca

Heart rate Variability-Biofeedback (HRV-BF) aims to restore autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance through respiratory control in those subjects suffering from autonomic dysfunction. The main objective of this review was to analyze the recently available scientific evidence on HRV-BF, as well as to explain its mechanisms of action involved within the ANS. A bibliographic review of the narrative type was carried out. Systematic reviews were preferably used to test evidence for its mechanism of action. Thus, we examined randomized controlled clinical trials to evaluate and compare recent results on HRV-BF. After this analysis we verified that the mechanism of action of this therapeutic approach is not yet conclusive, since the different studies disagree on the interpretation of the parameters of the heart rate variability (HRV). For their part, the systematic reviews consulted agree on the fact that the application of the VFC-BF causes an improvement of the autonomic dysfunction through the reinforcement of the baroreflex system. However, the specific effects of this procedure on parasympathetic ANS are still unclear. On the other hand, the different methodology in the elaboration of the mentioned experiments could have influenced the obtaining of results, so unequal in the clinical trials. Therefore, more studies are needed to deepen the management of this type of feedback in specific pathologies.