OBJECTIVE: To analyze the consequences on heart rate variability (HRV) of a hospitalization period due to surgery of the knee in sportsmen. PATIENTS: Ten soccer players who had undergone knee surgery took part in this study. DESIGN: HRV was measured before and after hospitalization within a 7-day interval. RESULTS: After the hospitalization phase, heart rate at rest increased significantly (3 beats/minute). A significant decrease of 7% in the cardiac inter beat interval (R-R interval), P < 0.05 and a 66% decrease in total power spectral density: -66%, P < 0.05 were observed. The disturbance of the autonomic nervous system could be due to a variation in cardiac vagal activity resulting in a 64% decrease in the high frequencies (P < 0.05). This variation was not associated with a modification in normalized markers (LFn.u., HFn.u.) and LF/HF ratio (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In sportsmen, a hospitalization period led to an increase in resting heart rate and was associated with a disturbance of the autonomic nervous system.