Design and Evaluation of a Wearable Electrical Stimulation System for Cardiovascular Regulation During and After 400-m Sprinting

Electrical stimulation (ES) has been widely applied in sports science, primarily in long-term training assistance and post-exercise recovery. However, its role during exercise, particularly in high-intensity running, remains underexplored. This study introduces a wearable Acupoint Electrical Stimulation (AES) system to modulate systemic physiological states during exercise.Complementary animal experiments validated the mechanism, showing that the stimulation protocol significantly modulates the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)) in the hypothalamus. Twenty-four healthy participants completed a 400-m sprint trial with continuous monitoring of running speed, stride frequency, heart rate, and recovery dynamics. Results demonstrated that AES applied during running significantly reduced heart rate and enhanced post-run recovery efficiency, without disrupting natural running mechanics. These findings highlight AES as a promising integrative strategy for improved physiological efficiency, representing a departure from conventional muscle-targeted paradigms and offering practical implications for sports training and rehabilitation engineering.