MANUAL PHYSIOLOGY PRACTICAL - Repository:The Medical ...

FM/UOJ
Experiment C 6
EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON BLOOD PRESSURE
(Test for physical fitness – II)
The blood pressure and heart rate change during physical work along with
respiratory and metabolic changes. The changes in circulatory system result in increase
cardiac output and diversion of major portion of the cardiac output the exercising
muscles. This, along with other changes ensures increased supply of oxygen and
essential nutrients to meet the increased needs of the working muscles.
This practical is designed to illustrate the changes in blood pressure and heart
rate. These charges are brought about by nervous and chemical factors. The magnitude
of the response and its duration after exercise of any individual will also depend on the
state of the Autonomic Nervous system and the state of training to physical work. And
this makes the experiment as a means of testing physical fitness.
Instruments:
Sphygmomanometer and cycle ergo meter or treadmill
Method:
Allow the subject to relax on the cycle ergo meter / treadmill and obtain the
resting pulse rate and blood pressure. (Even though this is ideal, resting values may be
obtained while the subject is seated on a stool in order to save time allowing another
group to use the ergometer at this time.) Seat the subject on the ergometer, the blood
pressure cuff still on but disconnected from the measuring device and start peddling at a
rate of 30 cycles by each leg per minute (15 Km/hr) at moderate resistance (2 Kg). The
rate of peddling is best kept with the help of a metronome. After four minutes of steady
workout, stop and record the blood pressure and the pulse rate immediately and
continue to measure every two minute until the resting values are reached. (Again,
ideally the subject should be in the ergometer but for convenience, will have to move to
a stool after the first measurement.
Demonstration:
Biopack system is used to demonstrate the change of pulse rate throughout the
workout.
Circulation
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