Exercise Physiology: Heart Rate & Blood Pressure

• Lab #4 is about heart rate and blood pressure measurements in exercise physiology.

Resting Heart Rate Protocol

• A client should sit in a chair with arm supports quietly for 5 minutes with their feet flat on the floor.
• A stethoscope is used on the chest, which is preferred.
• The earpieces need to point forward, and the stethoscope should be placed over the sternum or the 2nd intercostal space on the left side.
• It is possible to take a radial pulse from the wrist.
• Taking a carotid pulse from the neck is not recommended.
• Heart Rate monitor is preferred for testing
• Determine a 15 second pulse and multiply by 4 to obtain a one minute pulse.
• When starting the stop watch, the first beat should be counted as "0".

Exercise Heart Rate

• At the wrist, a radial pulse for 10 seconds can be taken.
• Heart rate in beats per minute can be calculated by multiplying a 10 second pulse by 6.
• If the radial pulse cannot be found during exercise, a stethoscope can be used on the chest for 10 seconds.
• A heart rate monitor (bpm) or the heart rate located on a machine like a treadmill (bpm) can be used.
• Practice taking the radial pulse at rest and during exercise with a partner.
• Use the index and middle fingers to apply gentle pressure on the inside of the wrist just proximal to the thumb.
• At rest: 15 seconds x 4 = bpm
• During exercise: 10 seconds x 6 = bpm

Resting Blood Pressure Measurement

• Choose the appropriately sized blood pressure cuff, known as a sphygmomanometer, and use a stethoscope.
• The blood pressure cuff should cover about 80% of the circumference of the upper arm and cover 2/3 of the distance between the elbow and shoulder, ensuring that it can be properly wrapped around the arm.
• The left arm should be supported on a desk at an angle of 10 to 45 degrees from the trunk, approximately at heart level.
• Locate the brachial artery at the antecubital space and wrap the BP cuff around the upper arm with the marker on the cuff at the brachial artery, and with the lower edge of the cuff approximately 2 - 3 cm above the anticubital space.
• It is important to place the cuff approximately at heart level.
• Palpate the radial artery at the wrist, pump up the cuff until the radial artery can no longer be felt, and note the reading on the dial.
• Continue to pump up the cuff another 20 to 30 mmHg.
• Place the stethoscope in your ears, pointing forward towards your nose and place the stethoscope at the antecubital space over the brachial artery.
• The diaphragm of the stethoscope should be flat on the arm
• The stethoscope should not touch the cuff or tubing.
• Release the cuff at a rate of 2mmHg per second.
• Record to the nearest 2mmHg for both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).
• Systolic BP is when you first hear the sounds.
• Diastolic BP is when you stop hearing the sounds.

Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Ranges

• In order to perform the fitness test, resting heart rate and blood pressure must be within specific ranges.
• Heart rate must be less than 100 bpm.
• Systolic blood pressure (SBP) must be less than 160 mmHg.
• Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) must be less than 90 mmHg.
• The minimum blood pressure allowed is 80/50.