TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Boschiero, Dario
AU  -  Beltrami, Gianfranco
AU  -  Marro, Michele
AU  -  Ferrari, Francesca
AU  -  Sacco, Antonio
AU  -  Pecorelli, Sergio
T1  -  Dysautonomia in athletes
PY  -  2024
Y1  -  2024-09-01
DO  -  10.23736/S0025-7826.24.04480-6
JO  -  Medicina dello Sport
JA  -  Med Sport
VL  -  77
IS  -  3
SP  -  307
EP  -  325
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  1827-1863
Y2  -  2026/04/08
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.23736/S0025-7826.24.04480-6
N2  -  Dysautonomia is a complex syndrome involving dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is responsible for regulating many involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and thermoregulation. In athletes, this condition can arise due to various interconnected factors, including physical overload and chronic stress associated with intensive training and frequent competitions. This prolonged state of stress can disrupt the autonomic balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, leading to a predominance of symptoms such as tachycardia, latent hypertension, and orthostatic intolerance. Athletes with a genetic predisposi - tion, such as those with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, are particularly vulnerable to dysautonomia due to the fragility of connective tissue, which impairs vascular function and increases susceptibility to episodes of hypotension and reduced exercise capacity. Additionally, brain injuries, common in contact sports, can damage the nerve centers responsible for autonomic control, leading to episodes of fiparoxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity,fl characterized by hypertension, excessive sweating, and other dysautonomic manifestations. The use of vasoactive drugs, often employed to manage other medical conditions, can exacerbate the symptoms of dysautonomia, further compromising an athlete™s ability to maintain optimal performance.This condition not only impairs training and competition ability but also increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as stroke and cardiac arrest, especially during intense physical activity. Therefore, it is crucial to early identify athletes with dysautonomia through tools and analyses of the ANS, such as photoplethysmographic heart rate variability analysis, to receive timely diagnosis and regular monitoring to evaluate autonomic parameters and the effectiveness of any treatments to mitigate associated risks.These include optimizing training load, lifestyle adjustments, potential pharmacological regulation, and adopting preventive measures to avoid trauma, which can signi˜cantly improve the quality of life and sports performance of these athletes and enhance long-term outcomes.
ER  -