PhD, Associate Professor M.Y. Stepanov¹
PhD, Associate Professor M.B. Salamatov²
G.S. Maltsev^1
1Tchaikovsky State Institute of Physical Culture, Tchaikovsky
²Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow

Abstract
Objective of the study was to conduct a heart rate variability analysis to assess the effects of the breathing hydrogen mixture in application to the 4th-year students of the Physical Culture Institute’s Department of Martial Arts.
Methods and structure of the study. The impact of the breathing hydrogen mixture on the functional state of the athletes was assessed using the heart rate variability method implemented under the "Omega-Pro" program of NGO "Dinamika". The study was carried out on the basis of the Tchaikovsky State Institute of Physical Culture and involved 8 students aged 20-21 years. The subjects’ heart rate variability was measured before the hydrogen therapy and 20 minutes into it. The studies were conducted three times a week for three months. A total of 288 measurements were taken. Of 123 indicators proposed by the "Omega-Pro" program, only 15 heart rate variability indices were processed using the methods of mathematical statistics. The statistical evaluation of the significance of the identified changes was made using a comparative analysis using the mathematical statistics methods.
Results and conclusions. Besides the statistically significant changes in heart rate variability, there was a significant decrease in tension index against its initially high values. It can be concluded that hydrogen therapy will have a better effect on heart rate variability after the load. Compared to the traditional hyperbaric oxygenation therapy and hypoxic training, the breathing hydrogen mixture was found to be more effective, as it significantly slows down the anaerobic processes and increases the respiratory system reserves.
There is some theoretical interest in using the breathing hydrogen mixture and further research is required for its application. The implementation of this breathing method in the practice of adaptive physical education and elite sports will contribute to the improvement of sports results, effective application of rehabilitation measures and, above all, preservation of the athletes’ health.

Keywords: hydrogen therapy, breathing hydrogen mixture, heart rate variability, tension index, level of adaptation to physical loads, body, training level, energy reserves, sympathetic spectrum, parasympathetic spectrum.

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