The Effects of endurance training upon brachial pulse wave and heart rate measurements of a group of middle-aged men

This study attempted to evaluate the effects of endurance training upon certain cardiovascular variables of a group of middle-aged men. Seventeen subjects were tested at the University of British Columbia before and after nine weeks of moderate training (average frequency of participation was two to three noon hour sessions per week). The subjects underwent a test procedure consisting of quiet sitting for fifteen minutes, brachial pulse wave tracings (sitting, standing, and post-exercise), a one-minute step test, and a six-minute ergometer ride. Finally, body weight was taken. Fourteen test variables were obtained from the results of this test procedure. These variables utilized by this study were: A. Heart Rate Measurements of 1. Quiet Sitting Heart Rate, 2. Step Test Two-Minute Total Recovery Heart Rate, 3. Cycling Steady-State Heart Rate, and 4. Cycling Two-Minute Total Recovery Heart Rate. B. Brachial Pulse Wave Measurements of 1. Sitting Area Under The Curve, 2. Sitting Systolic Amplitude, 3. Sitting Dicrotic Notch Amplitude, 4. Sitting Fatigue Ratio, 5. Sitting Obliquity Angle, 6. Sitting Diastolic Surge, 7. Sitting Rest To Work Ratio, 8. Standing Systolic Amplitude, and 9. Post-Exercise Systolic Amplitude. C. Body Weight in Pounds. The Null Hypothesis was proposed as a means of evaluating the significance of the mean difference between pre-training (Test 1) and post-training (Test 2) scores on each test item. The 5 per cent level of confidence (t = 1.746) was selected as the criterion for each variable. The results of this study indicate that the group showed no significant changes at the 5 per cent level of confidence in the quiet sitting heart rate, nor in any of the nine brachial pulse wave variables. Reductions significant at the 5 per cent level were observed in the step test two-minute total recovery heart rate, cycling steady-state heart, and cycling two-minute total recovery heart rate. Reductions in body weight were also observed to be significant at the 5 per cent level of confidence. The group appeared to improve their tolerance for sub-maximal exercise through moderate participation in the training programme. The significant heart rate reductions noted during and after work imply an increased work capacity. It appears that this moderate degree of training was not sufficient enough to significantly alter the refined cardiovascular variables (brachial pulse wave items). The coarse variables (recovery heart rate sums, steady-state heart rate, and body weight) were, however, significantly altered at the 5 per cent level of confidence.Education, Faculty ofCurriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department ofGraduat