HRV analysis in practice: Learnings from the first HRV consultations in 2026: a review

Since January, we’ve already held three of our new HRV Jour Fixes – and the response has been fantastic! Led by Dr. Alfred Lohninger, around 15 participants gather in our virtual space each time. It’s especially great to see the valuable mix of experienced participants and brand new faces.

What will be discussed? Everything about HRV analysis in practice. Here are the highlights and key takeaways from the first sessions:

The start of HRV practice

A major topic was getting started with training and working with clients. Alfred’s clear advice: Start with self-exploration as early as possible! Those who measure themselves best understand the dynamics of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Use the community for feedback on your first measurements – that’s what this space is for.

HRV Interpretation: Sleep Quality, Trauma and the ‘False’ High Vagus

We have intensively studied the borderline areas of HRV analysis:

  • Snoring & Sleep Quality: When is action necessary? A thorough medical history (weight, alcohol consumption, etc.) is always crucial here, assessing subjective sleep quality. If abnormalities are identified, the next step is to consult an ENT specialist or a sleep lab (keyword: sleep apnea/sleep mask).
  • Respiratory Stress & Trauma: We discussed how post-traumatic stress disorders can manifest in measurements. Respiratory stress often has the highest psycho-emotional impact and requires particular sensitivity. Exhalation – that’s what matters.
  • The “false” elevated vagus nerve: A seemingly high vagus nerve reading is not always a sign of optimal regeneration – it can also indicate a freezing reflex.

“Stress regulation with Tiger Therapy: The biological reset for the ANS”

One highlight was the discussion about Tiger Therapy. Our system often still thinks like it did in the Stone Age: The saber-toothed tiger (stress) is there and we want to flee.

The solution: Play through your body! Short, intense – ultra-short, high-intensity bursts of activity. This signals to the body: “The tiger is gone.” Afterwards, consciously transition into regeneration, “sit heavily in the chair,” exhale, and let go. This is the ultimate reset for the ANS (autonomic nervous system).

The HRV Triad: Why Context Is Everything

A central point of our discussion was the triad model: stimulus – stimulus processing – constitution. In HRV analysis, we consider not only the raw value, but also the interplay of these three pillars:

  • The stimulus: What external factors are at play? (Job stress, training, heat, infection).
  • The stimulus processing: How is the autonomic nervous system reacting to this at the moment? Here, real-time HRV measurement provides us with information about current adaptability.
  • The constitution: The client’s biological “starting capital” and long-term condition. Age, genetics, and lifestyle form the foundation upon which stimulus processing takes place.

Only when we combine all three factors in the consultation do we understand why a modern “saber-toothed tiger” leads to a healthy adaptation in person A, while person B already slips into exhaustion mode.

Medical Borderline Cases & Technology

  • Cardiology: When should clients be referred to a specialist? We discussed clear criteria for cardiac arrhythmias, noting that premature beats (extrasystoles) are often simply a sign of adaptation processes. When interpreting the measurements, it’s also important to review the scatter plot and tachogram in HRVmed.
  • Chest strap influence: What should be done when clients say, “That wasn’t a normal day; the strap bothered me”? We discussed how to weight this subjective influence in the evaluation.
  • Sports check: The step value was analyzed based on several sports measurements (including a reference to our HRVsport brochure).

Conclusion: This exchange demonstrates how dynamic and complex HRV work is in everyday practice. We’re already looking forward to the next meeting! It’s always at 7 pm on the last Thursday of every month! ((Currently only available in German. You can get the Zoom link for free participation by emailing office@autonomhealth.com.

HRV-Analyse & Portrait Dr. Alfred Lohinger: © Autonom Health Gesundheitsbildungs GmbH

Graphic design: Created with the support of AI (Gemini/Google)

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