Lab #1

CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO EXERCISE

Samantha C. Munoz

KIN 4312

Lab Section: Friday 2:00-4:00

Fall2016

INTRODUCTION
Cardiovascular adjustments take place in order to increase the blood supply to the
muscles during exercise (King, 2016) Heart rate and blood pressure can give results about if an
individual is healthy or not. Any time exercise is being performed the cardiovascular control
center causes the cardiac output to increase by sending sympathetic accelerator nerve impulses to
the heart (Powers & Howley, 2012). An increased heart rate has a few different variables that
cause it, one variable being an increase in body temperature. An increase in body temperature
increases the heart rate and decreases the heart rate if body temperature is low (Powers &
Howley, 2012).
If Cardiac output can be reported by finding heart rate and subtracting stroke volume, a
correlation can be made that depending on the health and weight of a subject will either cause
blood pressure to be higher or lower than average. Stroke volume will be higher in a athletic
subject due a healthier heart being able to give the body blood at a faster rate (Maron & Pelliccia,
2006). Heart rate is said to increase during exercise due to the withdrawal of parasympathetic
tone (Powers & Howley, 2012)
To examine the correlation between work and blood pressure, two subjects where needed
to conduct test during exercise. Results were gathered as the subjects walked on a treadmill,
stepped on different heights and walked on a treadmill to gather data on blood pressure (BP) and
heart rate (HR). The purpose of the study was to determine if systolic and diastolic would
increase and if it would have an effect on total peripheral resistance (TPR). It was hypothesized
that systolic and diastolic would increase while TPR would decrease due to an increased need for
oxygen and the heart pumping out more blood to the muscles at a faster rate.

EQUIPMENT
Blood Pressure Device (sphygmomanometer)
Stethoscope
Monark Cycle Ergometer
Treadmill
10-40 cm steps
Metronome
Clock or stop watch
PROCEDURES
Measurement of Blood Pressure:
1. The proper size cuff was chosen and wrapped around the upper arm. Arrow was aligned
with the brachial artery, so that the bladder was on the inside of the arm.
2. Placed the stethoscope membrane over the brachial artery between the antecubital space.
3. Tightened the thumb screw of the cuff and then pumped the cuff to 200 mm Hg; then
slowly released the pressure at the rate of 2-3 mm Hg per second and listened for the first
Korotkoff sound (systolic pressure). Continued to release the pressure until sound was
muffled (4th phase diastolic), and then disappeared (5th phase diastolic).
4. Let out all pressure from the cuff
Heart Rate Protocol:
1. Palpated at the Brachial artery (inner arm at the bend) and Carotid artery (neck)
2. Counted the number of beats in 15 seconds, then multiplied by four to determine the heart
rate by beats/Minute
Cycle Ergometer Protocol:
1. Worked in groups of five (subject, blood pressure recorder, heart rate recorder, time
recorder, resistance tracker, and data recorder)
2. Adjusted the seat height so that knees where at a slight bend when the feet where flat on
the pedal.
3. Subject sat on the bike for a minute so blood pressure and heart rate could be recorder
4. Started peddling at a rate of 50 rpm.
5. The resistance tracker changed resistance every two minutes to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0.
6. Heart rate and blood pressure where measured during the last 30 seconds of each twominute periods.
7. Calculated the power (work rate) for each stage of the test.
Stepping Ergometer Protocol:
1. Body weight was recorded for each subject
2. Metronome was set at 132 beats/min.
3. Subject stepped up for two beats and down for two beats (up-up-down-down) to yield 33
steps/min.
4. The subject stepped at each level for 3 minutes, keeping the rhythm with the beat of the
metronome.

5. Recorded the heart rate and blood pressure at each work rate ( measurements where taken
before the end of each interval)
6. Work rate was calculated, with the subjects weight being the force. The heights of the
steps were 10, 20, 30, and 40cm. Work rate was converted to kpm min-1, by converting
heights to meters.
Treadmill Protocol:
1. Subjects weight was recorded
2. Treadmill was set to three mph at a grade of zero percent. Subject walked until they felt
comfortable without holding onto the handrails.
3. Subject walked for three minutes at grades of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Leaving the speed
constant at 3 mph throughout the test.
4. Ending each stage, subjects heart rate and blood pressure where recorded.
5. Calculated the power (work rate) for each stage.

RESULTS
Table 1. Work rate, time, heart rate, and blood pressure for cycle ergometer exercise

Equations:Kp50 rev / min 6m/rev=(N)kpm/min

Kpm/6.12=(N)Watts
Table 2. Step height, power, heart rate, and blood pressure for stepping ergometer exercise

Equations:Weight 33 steps/min step height =Power (kpm/Min)

Kpm/6.12=(N)Watts
Table 3. Time, speed, percentage grade, power, heart rate, and blood pressure for treadmill
exercise

Equations:Vertical Velocity= % grade speed of belt

Vertical power= weight speed % grade

Table 4. Work rate, cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume at each stage for subject one on
cycle ergometer

Table 5. Mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, work rate, total peripheral resistance

Heart Rate vs. Power: Cycle Ergometer

160
140
120
100

Heart Rate(BPM)

Subject one

80

Subject two

60
40
20
0

24.51

49.02

73.53

98.04

Power (Watts)

Figure 1. This figure displays the correlation between heart rate and power, and how heart rate
increases as more power is used to complete the cycle ergometer exercise

Heart Rate Vs.Power: Stepping Ergometer

200
180
160
140
120

Heart Rate(BPM)

Subject one

100

Subject two

80
60
40
20
0

40

80

120

150

Power (Watts)

Figure 2. This figure displays a correlation between heart rate and power as two subjects
complete the stepping ergometer exercise.

Heart Rate Vs. Power: Treadmill

180
160
140
120

Heart Rate (Bpm)

100

Subject One

80

Subject Two

60
40
20
0

260

510

750

940

Power (Kpm/min)

Figure 3. This figure shows the positive correlation between heart rate and power as two subjects
complete the treadmill exercise.

Figure 4. This figure displays the blood pressure of subject one and how it is affected by work
rate for the cycle ergometer exercise.

Figure 5. This figure displays the blood pressure of subject two and how it correlates with work
rate for the cycle ergometer exercise.

Figure 6. This figure displays subjects one blood pressure vs. work rate while doing the stepping
ergometer

Figure 7. This figure displays subjects twos blood pressure and how it correlates to work rate
while subject is performing the stepping ergometer.

Figure 8. This figure displays the blood pressure and how it correlates with work rate while
subject one does the treadmill exercise.

Figure 9. This figure displays the correlation between blood pressure and work rate for subject
two as the subject does treadmill exercise.

Discussion
The purpose of the study was to determine if systolic and diastolic would increase and if
it would have an effect on total peripheral resistance (TPR). It was hypothesized that systolic and
diastolic would increase while TPR would decrease due to an increased need for oxygen and the
heart pumping out more blood to the muscles at a faster rate. Figure one shoes a raise in HR for
subject one and two while completing the cycle ergometer. Figure one shows a positive
correlation of HR and Work Rate. The resistance used is used to calculate what the work rate is
and shows the difference in a healthy individual that works out to an individual that doesnt work
out.
Referring back to figures four through nine shows the correlation between blood pressure
and work rate and how all subjects had an increase in systolic and diastolic pressure. It shows
that while the subjects did exercise the muscles would need more oxygen so the heart would send
a higher pressure of blood pressure out. Going back to the introduction, cardiovascular
adjustments take place in order to increase the blood supply to the muscles during exercise
(King, 2016). Giving the conclusion that the results are correct and correlate with material from
other studies about blood pressure and heart rate compared with work rate.
In summary, all subjects had a positive correlation to work rate even if it was blood
pressure or heart rate that was being compared. As hypothesized all subjects had an increase in
systolic and diastolic rate because the amount of oxygen needed increases while doing exercise
causing the heart to pump out more blood to muscles at a faster rate. TPR will decrease as well
because exercise causes the arterioles to become smaller to acquire a higher blood flow.

Question
1. Graph the heart rate vs. power (Watts) data for cycle ergometer.
Refer back to Figure 1
2. Graph the heart rate vs. power (Watts) data for the stepping ergometer.
Refer back to Figure 2
3. Graph the heart rate vs. power data for the treadmill.
Refer back to Figure 3
4. Plot the BP responses for each exercise test.
Refer back to Figure 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
5. For the progressive exercise on the cycle ergometer, determine the stroke volume at each
stage. Plug-in the heart rate data and compute the stroke volume for subject #1.
Stroke volume=Cardiac output/Heart Rate
5,000/100=50
6,800/115=59.1
8,600/128=67.2
10,400/14=74.3
12,200/152=80.3
6. For subject #1, use the SBP and DBP data from the stepping ergometer protocol to
calculate mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). The resistance to blood flow throughout
the entire body is caked the total peripheral resistance (TPR), and is calculated as
TPR=MABP/Q
MABP=DBP+1/3(SBP-DBP)
TPR=19.34
46.7=80+1/3(130-80)
TPR=16.18
110=90+1/3(150-90)
TPR=14.73
126.7=100+1/3(180-100)
TPR=12.18
126.7=105+1/3(170-105)
TPR=10.66
130=105+1/3(180-105)
7. What happens to TPR as the exercise intensity increases? What physiological explanation
can be given to account for this?
TPR decreases as exercise intensity increases because the arterioles becomes smaller
to get a higher blood flow.
8. Look at the systolic and diastolic data from each of the testing protocols. Is the pressure
increasing, decreasing, or staying the same during both phases of BP? Physiologically,
explain why?

Systolic and diastolic pressure is increasing during the phase of BP, it increases
because the amount of oxygen needed throughout the whole body increases during
exercise causing the heart to pump out more blood and at a faster rate.

REFERENCES

King, G. A. (2016). Kinesiology 4312 exercise physiology laboratory manuel (Fall 2016).
El Paso, TX: Paper Chase.
Maron, B. J., & Pelliccia, A. (2006). The heart of trained athletes: Cardiac remodeling and
the risks of sports, including sudden death. Circulation

Powers, S.K., & Howley, E.T. (2012). Exercise physiology: Theory and application to fitness
and performance (8th ed.). New York; McGraw-Hill Education- Europe.