Physiological and Psychological Responses in Elite Archers: Heart Rate Variability, Salivary Biomarkers, and Performance Outcomes

This study investigated physiological responses during professional competitions by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary α-amylase and cortisol in elite archers. Based on the vagal tank theory, we examined psychophysiological dynamics and assessed differences in HRV and salivary biomarkers between high- and low-scoring matches to evaluate their association with performance. Eight elite archers (four male, four female) participated, with data collected across 184 matches of the Chinese Enterprise Archery League. HRV was recorded pre- and during matches, and salivary α-amylase and cortisol were measured pre- and post-match. Heart rate significantly increased from 97.0 ± 11.5 bpm pre-match to 110.7 ± 15.3 bpm during matches, while RMSSD, an index of cardiac vagal control, remained stable. Heart rate, RMSSD, and high-frequency power were similar between high- and low-scoring matches. Post-match α-amylase concentrations were lower in high-scoring matches (51.37 ± 49.44 U/ml) than in low-scoring matches (71.00 ± 88.13 U/ml; p = 0.037), after controlling for pre-match values, whereas cortisol levels remained unchanged. These findings suggest that elite archers engage sympathetic arousal to mobilize cognitive and physiological resources while maintaining vagal regulation to preserve precision and composure. The observed autonomic profile aligns with the vagal tank theory, indicating that self-regulation capacity was maintained during competition. Lower post-match AA levels, an indicator of sympathetic–adrenal–medullary pathway activity, were associated with better performance, suggesting that effective anxiety management may enhance accuracy. Psychological skills training to manage competition-related stress may therefore improve performance in elite archery.