Figure 1.

Schematic desription of experimental design. After rest-phase participants underwent a submaximal cycling followed by recovery-phase. Heart rate variability was registered 5 minutes at rest (baseline) and during the last 5 minutes of a 15 minute recovery (post-exercise). Baseline and post-exercise measurements were carried out in different body positions (seated upright on cycle ergometer-protocol I, supine-protocol II, and supine with elevated legs-protocol III).