Biofeedback Protocols for Stress Management in High-Performance Work Environments

High demanding work environments are sources of potentially harmful stress reactions. Chronic stress experienced in working life generates an autonomic dysregulation, which in turn results in high resting heart rate and blood pressure, as well as reduced vagal tone. Here, we proposed a novel approach that exploits competitive biofeedback to reduce negative psychological and physiological outcomes of stress in high-performance work environments. We compared standard to competitive biofeedback, showing that competition enhances training efficacy in promoting health and restoring cardiac autonomic balance.