Heartrate Lab
Heartrate Lab
Heartrate Lab
Step up and down on a stair step for 3 minutes (30 steps per minute). Immediately
after the 3 minutes, take your pulse and record it.
Continue to take your pulse after every minute until your pulse is within 6 beats of
your sitting pulse rate (recovery).
This is your pulse at rest (the best time to get a true resting heart rate is first thing in
the morning before you get out of bed).
Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)= Maximum Heart Rate - Resting Heart Rate = 135 bpm
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Once you have your Heart Rate Reserve, you can calculate your training heart rate:
(Heart Rate Reserve*.85) + Resting Heart Rate = Upper end of the training zone
(Heart Rate Reserve *.50) + Resting Heart Rate = Lower end of the training zone
Rate your fitness level (shape) according to the levels on the website.
Zone 2 and zone 3 are most appropriate for me. These zones allow me to work at the
upper end of my target heart rate. By working in these zones I am getting the full
benefits of my workout. This will allow for weight loss and cardiovascular exercise.
Based on your heart rate chart, you can now fill in the following table.
Questions:
(You must provide a credible citation for ALL answers except #7 and #8)
1. Define heart rate. Define pulse. Why is blood pressure different from heart rate?
Heart Rate- the number of beats per unit of time, usually per minute. Heart rate is
based on the number of contractions of the ventricles.
Pulse- the rhythmic contraction and expansion of an artery due to the surge of blood
from the beat of the heart.
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood against the wall of the arteries. It is made
up of two forces: the heart pumping blood and the force of the arteries as they resist
flow. Heart rate is only made up of one force.
A normal resting heart rate is 60-90 bmp. Athletes tend to have lower resting heart
rates, in the 40-60 bmp range. Generally it is good to have a lower heart rate because
the heart has to work less to maintain the body at rest. However, too low of a heart
rate can be dangerous. It can lead to bradycardia. Symptoms of bradycardia include
weakness, loss of energy, and fainting.
NEMA: http://www.nemahealth.org/programs/healthcare/heart_rate_pulse.htm
3. If heart rate monitors were not available, how would you instruct an individual to
properly check pulse rate?
1. Place tips of index, second, and third fingers on the palm side of wrist below the
base of the thumb or on the lower neck on either side of the windpipe. Find the
artery.
2. Press lightly with fingers until you feel the blood pulsing.
A talk test is an easy way to measure the intensity of exercise. Exercise should cause
a person to deepen his or her breath, but he or she should still be able to talk
comfortably. If a person is unable to speak during a workout, the exercise is too
intense. If a person is able to speak without being winded at all, the intensity is too
low. The talk test allows a person to see if he or she is working out in his or her
comfort zone. Most likely, if a person is in his or her comfort zone he or she will be in
the target heart rate zone. If a person is unable to talk, he or she is above the target
heart rate zone. If a person can talk and is not winded he or she is not in the target
heart rate zone.
Discovery:
http://health.discovery.com/centers/articles/articles.html?chrome=c32&article=LC_123
¢er=p10
5. Will your target heart rate change over time? Why or why not?
Target heart rate will change over time. The formula for target heart rate is 220 –
your age. So as you get older, you target heart rate will get lower. Also, as you
exercise more often, you will be strengthening your heart. Therefore, you will be able
to attain a higher target heart rate so that you will still receive the benefits of your
workout.
NEMA: http://www.nemahealth.org/programs/healthcare/heart_rate_pulse.htm
NEMA: http://www.nemahealth.org/programs/healthcare/heart_rate_pulse.htm
From this experiment, I learned that most of the time I am working out in my target
heart rate zone. This means that I am getting the full aerobic benefits of my workout.
I also learned that I have a fit level of health/fitness based upon my recovery heart
rate and the time it takes my body to recover after exercise.
8. Did you enjoy working with the heart rate monitors? Why or why not?
I enjoyed working with the heart rate monitors. I would like to try performing a full
hour work out with the heart rate monitor to see how much time I spend in my target
heart rate zone and how much time is spent at a maximum intensity. I think that
working with the heart rate monitors motivates you to work out in your target heart
rate zone to achieve the full benefits of the workout.
DATE: 11/24/08