Physical fitness can be determined by tests, including those designed to measure heart rate during exercise, the volume of oxygen consumed while exercising at maximum capacity (known as VO2 max), body fat percentage, muscle fitness, flexibility, and heart recovery rate.
Heart recovery rate is the time it takes for the heart to return to its normal resting beat. A healthy heart will return quickly to its normal beat after exercising. Heart recovery rates can be improved by making lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and exercising regularly.
Normal resting heart rate values for different ages are:
newborn infants: 100 to 160 beats per minute
children 1 to 10 years: 70 to 120 beats per minute
children over 10 and adults (including seniors): 60 to 100 beats per minute
Athletes can have much lower resting heart rates, as low as 40 to 60 beats per minute.
Procedure
Review the Exercise Activity handouts:
Exercise Activity Data Sheet Download Exercise Activity Data Sheet
Exercise Activity: Background Procedure & Questions Download Exercise Activity: Background Procedure & Questions
Exercise Activity: Procedure Download Exercise Activity: Procedure
Take your resting pulse rate (for 15 seconds).
Average the three resting rate trials and multiply the average by four to determine resting heart rate per minute.
Conduct the exercise and pulse-measuring portion of the activity.
Do the exercise and plot the results using excel, SPSS or by hand.
Scenario shift: Test for muscle fatigue by opening and closing a clothespin for 20 seconds. Then rest for a few seconds and do another 20-second-long set. Record how long it takes before muscle fatigue sets in.
Discussion
Answer 3 of the following questions:
What are some of the factors that influence resting pulse rate? Why might an athlete have a lower pulse rate than a person who does not exercise regularly?
In the “Recovery Time” graph, describe the changes that occurred to your heartbeat in minutes 1–7. Use specific numbers from the data table in your response.
If you compared the graph of an extremely fit athlete with the graph of a sedentary 50-year-old individual, would you expect them to be alike or different? Explain your reasoning.
What effect could a longer pulse recovery period have on a person’s ability to perform certain activities? What effect could a shorter pulse recovery period have?
What might a person do to improve his or her recovery period?
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