The effect of heart rate biofeedback training on rifle shooting

Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between heart rate and triggering action, and to consider the effect of heart rate biofeedback training (BFT) on rifle shooting performance.

    Subjects were employed 24 collegiate rifle shooters. They were divided into 3 homogeneous groups depending on their rifle shooting skill: AT-BFT group, BFT group, and Control group. AT-BFT group tried to decrease their heart rate with auditory biofeedback information and with autogenic training (AT) as strategy, BFT group did with only auditory biofeedback information, and Control group did without auditory biofeedback information.

    This report was discussed from the viewpoint of a triggering time point on heart rate changes. Expert shooter triggered at the lowest point of his/her heart rate. Heart rate biofeedback training work on their performance effectively only in AT-BFT group.