A Pilot Study to Evaluate the effect of Pre - and immediate Post-Exercise Heart Rate on Physical Fitness in Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Resting Heart rate is one of the important vital parameters depicting the cardiovascular status. It has been reported that Resting heart rate is low in trained athletes. Higher Resting heart rate is one of the independent factor for all cause mortality in cardiovascular diseases. Health as a profession is challenging and physically demanding. Identifying the fitness level from RHR (Resting Heart Rate) or PEHR(i) (Immediate Post Exercise Heart Rate) may prove as a tool for future cardiovascular and Exercise physiology research.
Objectives: The Present study was conducted to observe the association of RHR and PEHR(i) with Physical fitness among 1st Professional Medical students who are physically untrained and sedentary.
Materials and Methods: 100 first professional medical students (49 male and 51 female )participated in this study. Subjects underwent the Harvard Step test using the standard protocol. Physical fitness was calculated and relations and predictability of RHR and PEHR(i) were analyzed statistically.
Results: Resting Heart Rate and immediate Post-exercise Heart Rate both inversely correlated with Physical Fitness index. PEHR(i) has better predictability towards physical fitness.
Conclusion: It was observed that the physical fitness index among the first professional students was poor. Students with higher RHR has poor fitness index. The observation was similar with PEHR(i). Post-exercise heart rate predict the fitness level significantly than RHR.