Throughout the semester, we have tested and evaluated several techniques used to assess cardiovascular fitness. Cardiovascular fitness is an important concept because it is a representation of the heart, lungs, and vascular system’s ability to work together in providing oxygen to the working muscle so physical work can be maintained. Physical inactivity and poor cardiovascular fitness are associated with several health concerns including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes which can lead to higher morbidity and mortality rates.
By testing cardiovascular fitness, these health risks can be identified and addressed before they are turned into greater problems. The techniques we used this semester include aerobic field tests, semi-laboratory tests, step tests, and laboratory VO2 max tests. Each technique required a different application, and had its own list of advantages and disadvantages which I will further discuss.
The first technique, aerobic field testing, includes the Rockport 1 Mile Walking Test, the Cooper 1.5 Mile Test, and the 12 Minute Cooper Test. The Rockport Fitness Walking Test is a fairly simple and safe method used for determining VO2 max, or aerobic capacity. Aerobic capacity indicates the maximum rate that the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems can take in, transport, and use oxygen during exercise. This reflects the body’s ability to provide energy to the muscles using oxygen. The higher the number, the more aerobically fit a person is considered. To perform this test, the subject walks one mile as fast as they can and stops the stopwatch as soon as the mile is completed. The subject should take their pulse while continuing to walk, but at a slower pace and record their time and heart ra...
... middle of paper ...
... on the time spent on the test in minutes. For a “good” score on this test, the subject would take 9-15 minutes to complete. To calculate VO2 max, the formulas are as follows: men = 1.444 (T) + 14.99 and women = 1.38 (T) + 5.22. The Balke Protocol is a good test for cardiac patients because it is considered safe and performed at a moderate workload. However, this technique is fairly costly and takes a considerable amount of time to set up and conduct.
In closing, the assessment of cardiovascular fitness has proven to be an important tool in identifying various cardiovascular health risks, and each one of the previously discussed techniques has a common theme of being a predictor of those health issues. Considering the differences in the techniques, no one technique is necessarily better than the other. The test’s effectiveness mainly depends on the target subject.
Thompson, P. D., Buchner, D., Pina, I. L., Balady, G. J., Williams, M. A., Marcus, B. H., ... Wenger, N. K. (2003). Exercise in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology. Journal of the American Heart Association, 3110-3116. http://dx.doi.org/doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000075572.40158.77
The Queens College/McArdle Step Test, the Rockport One Mile Walk Test, and the 1.5 Mile Run Test are three different field tests that were performed in this lab that were used to measure and predict an individual’s aerobic capacity. The measurement of aerobic capacity, or VO2 max, is a valid way to assess an individual’s cardiorespiratory fitness level. VO2 max refers to the maximal amount of oxygen an individual utilizes during intensive exercise. A higher VO2 max demonstrates a more efficient cardiorespiratory system as an individual with a higher VO2 max can sustain a higher intensity for a longer
Methods: The participants of this study took part in the Step Test which is a form of cardiovascular exercise (Kusinitz and Fine 1995). The Step Test involved the individuals stepping up and down the low step platform for a consecutive three minutes.
This lab experiment was conducted in a Texas Woman’s University exercise physiology lab room, on September 20, 2013. It consisted of two main participants: A trained participant (Male; 30 years old; 72 in. tall; 82.9 kg) and an untrained participant (Female; 20 years old; 65 in. tall; 75 kg). They were selected by my Prof. April Hartman to participate because they were best qualified to conduct the study in our class. Both participants were assigned to carry out the same experimental task. The Bruce Protocol (graded test) on a treadmill (mode of exercise) was used to conduct the VO2max test. The materials needed were: 1 metabolic cart (with computers); 2 mouthpieces; 1 nose clip; 1 treadmill; 1 RPE scale; 1 timer; pen; paper; and a HR monitor.
Yung,, L.M., Laher, I., Chen, Z.Y., Huang, Y. and Leaung , F.P. (2009) Exercise, Vascular Wall and Cardiovascular Diseases. Sports Medicine. Vol. 39, No. 1: 45-63
The two assessment tools chosen are the 12 lead ECG and blood tests. The 12 lead ECG provides more detailed views and angles of the hearts electrical activity in both horizontal and frontal planes. The 12 lead has 6 limb leads and the other 6 for chest leads (Phalen & Aehlert, 2006).
Senthil, K. S., Vivek, K. S., & Vinayathan, A. (2013). Comparison of effect of regular unstructured physical training and athletic level training on body composition and cardio respiratory fitness in adolescents. 7(9), 1878 - 1882. Retrieved from http://jcdr.net/article_abstract.asp?issn=0973-709&xyear=2013&volume=7&issue=9&page=1878&issn=0973-709&xid=3340
.... This study was important in learning the affects of exercise on HR, BP, and pulse oximetry, and would have been more accurate and useful if the evaluators had access to a wider range of equipment/facilities.
Since 1960 the age-adjusted mortality rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has declined steadily in the U.S. due to multiple factors, but still remains one of the primary causes of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Greater control of risk factors and improved treatments for cardiovascular disease has significantly contributed to this decline (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). In the U.S. alone it claims approximately 830,000 each year and accounts for 1/6 of all deaths under the age of 65 (Weiss and Lonnquist, 2011). Based on the 2007 mortality rate data an average of 1 death every 37 seconds is due to cardiovascular disease (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2009). Controlling and reducing risk factors is crucial for saving lives. There are a number of contributing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which may appear in the form of hereditary, behavioral, and psychological, all of which ultimately converge in social or cultural factors.
Today, cardiovascular disease is “the number one killer in the United States and the developed world” (Sapolsky, 2004, p. 41). Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease, and is responsible for claiming an unreasonable amount of lives every year. CHD can begin to accumulate in young adults, but is prominently found in both men and women in their later adult lives. As a result of CHD, men typically experience heart attacks, whereas women present with chest pains, known as angina (Matthews, 2005).
The American Medical Women's Association. Guide to Cardiovascular Health, New York, NY: Dell Publishing, 2009.
“Physical fitness is defined as a state of well-being with a low risk of premature health problems and energy to participate in a variety of physical activities.” (Pangrazi,
To complete the data sheet I used to finalize my hypothesis, I was given a sheet that had a survey and different activities I had to perform and check my pulse while doing them. The survey consists of questions that ask if I smoke, exercise, drink coffee, drink soda, drink Energy drinks, eat breakfast, and eat dinner. The activities included resting, walking, riding an excursive bike, drinking water, drinking soda, drinking coffee, taking an exam, driving through traffic, eating breakfast, eating dinner, and awakening from sleep. I had to record my pulse before, during, five minutes after, and...
Many factors can influence the results of testing this hypothesis. All variables have been controlled except for the variable gender. Both the male and female subjects are close in age (< two years difference), both are nonsmokers, both possess small body builds for their respective gender, and both have no debilitating medical conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, heart condition). Controlling these factors allowed for the testing of the hypothesis, which is focused strictly on gender.
Paffenbarger, R. (1996). Physical Activity and Fitness for Health and Longevity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports, 67(3), 11-30.