Handrail support interference in cardiac autonomic modulation adjustments in young adults during maximal exercise testing

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of handrail support during maximal exercise treadmill testing (ETT) would interfere in cardiac autonomic modulation kinetics when compared to not using handrail support. The hypothesis of overestimation in cardiac autonomic dynamics when the ETT is performed using handrail was tested. Thirty-five undergraduates (21.08 ± 2.98 years old) of both sexes, volunteered to undertake two ETT under the Ellestad protocol, in non-consecutive days. The first test (T1) was performed with handrail support and, after 7 days, the second test was performed (T2) without the support. Autonomic function was measured by heart rate variability (HRV) during both tests and resting. Estimated value of peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) was 22.4% (p