One of the most common misconceptions in the world of HRV is the when HRV goes up that's always good and when HRV goes down that's always bad.  Unfortunately many HRV measurement devices and apps have adopted this as the way things are. But it's definitely not true and it's certainly not that simple.  

But here at Morpheus we understand this at a deeper level and have taken steps to make sure that you understand what HRV and recovery score actually mean so that you can make better decisions on behalf of your clients.

When HRV on a particular day is higher or lower than the 10-day rolling average, the recovery score % will be lower on that day.  

But LOWER HRV with LOWER RECOVERY SCORE means something entirely different than HIGHER HRV with LOWER RECOVERY SCORE.  And you should approach these situations differently from an exercise and recovery perspective with your clients.

Below is a picture that shows you what to look for in the Morpheus Coach app.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:  A single daily change in HRV (up or down) is NOT at all predictive of fitness or athletic performance on that day.  

When a client's recovery score drops below 60% after a morning recovery test, it's a good idea on that day to implement some sort of regeneration method.  

These methods can actually help them recover faster and more fully than simply taking the day off from any sort of exercise or movement.

LOWER HRV with LOWER RECOVERY SCORE means that the body is driving more energy toward being in a sympathetic dominant state.  This means that regeneration methods should be geared toward RELAXATION.

HIGHER HRV with LOWER RECOVERY SCORE means that the body is driving more energy toward being in a parasympathetic dominant state.  This means that regeneration methods should be geared toward STIMULATION.