Introduction

This experiment was performed to measure heart rate and blood pressure during different
conditions of rest and exercise. In a study by Mitchel et al. we see that exercise at 40% of
maximal voluntary contraction produces about a 40% increase in mean arterial pressure,
however these will be maximal static contractions for time so we can observe the relationship
between heart rate, blood pressure, and maximal static contractions (Mitchel et al.). In a study by
Singh et al. cardiovascular exercise was shown to increase heart rate, systolic blood pressure and
sometimes diastolic blood pressure during steady state treadmill tests, so we will investigate the
effects of cardiovascular exercise in the form of cycling on heart rate and blood pressure at
different intensity levels (Singh et al.).
These figures will be important for many reasons. One of the most important reasons
however is that based on these findings doctors would be able to recommend or advise against
certain protocols. For example if maximal timed static holds drastically increase systolic and
diastolic blood pressures, then a doctor can easily recommend those be avoided for those at risk
of stroke or heart attack. The same can be said for certain intensity levels of cardiovascular
exercise. Our hypothesis is that blood pressure and heart rate will decrease while laying down
and increase while standing. We also hypothesize that the static wall sit and isometric plank will
drastically increase heart rate and blood pressure to near maximal values and the dynamic
cycling will also increase these things, but not to the degree that the static holds did.
Methods
Before testing began, blood pressure measurements were practiced between two subjects.
Blood pressure was measured multiple times to ensure consistency and accuracy. After a period,
the results were then tested against an electronic blood pressure cuff to once again ensure

accuracy of the blood pressure readings. Blood pressure measurements and heart rate
measurements were then taken after the subject had been lying down for 3 minutes, sitting in a
chair after 30 seconds, and standing after 30 seconds. Another resting blood pressure and heart
rate was then taking sitting to establish a baseline. After the baseline measurement was taken, a
subject was placed into a wall sit isometric hold with a 90 degree bend in the knees, back flat
against the wall, with lower legs perpendicular to the floor. The subject held this position until
fatigue, at which point blood pressure and heart rate were measured. 45 seconds post exercise
blood pressure and heart rate were taken again. After this subjects were placed into an isometric
plank hold with heart rate and blood pressure measurements being taken at fatigue and 45
seconds post exercise.
After the plank measurements one subject was allowed to rest for 5 minutes at which
point new blood pressure and heart rate measurements were taken. A monarch cycle ergometer
was set to a workout of 50W and the subject pedaled at 65BPM. Heart rate and blood pressure
were taken during the last minute of a 3 minute stage. After 3 minutes, the workload was
increased to 100W and again the blood pressure and heart rate were measured during the last
minute of a 3 minute stage. The workload was increased to 150W and blood pressure and heart
rate were taken during the last minute of a 3 minute stage. After the 150W stage all resistance
was removed to allow the subject to cool down. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured
during the last 30 seconds of each minute for 3 minutes. After getting of the cycle the subject
rested an additional 4 minutes with heart rate and blood pressure being measured every 2
minutes.
The formulas used are listed below:
1. Pulse pressure (PP) (mmHg) = SBP (mmHg) - DBP (mmHg)
2. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) (mmHg) = DBP (mmHg) + (PP/3)

3. Rate pressure product (RPP) (Unitless) = HR (bpm) * SBP (mmHg) / 100

Tables
Resting HR and BP

Ola

Matt

HR

SBP

DBP

PP

MAP

lying supine

72

142

76

66

98

sitting on a chair

80

146

80

66

102

standing

96

152

80

72

104

lying supine

80

138

98

40

111.3333

sitting on a chair

88

124

70

54

88

standing

88

122

78

44

92.66667

HR and BP during Static Wall Sit

Ola

Matt

HR

SBP

DBP

PP

MAP

baseline

80

146

80

66

102

during exercise

128

196

100

96

132

45 sec after exercise

116

176

80

96

112

baseline

88

124

70

54

88

during exercise

128

160

100

60

120

45 sec after exercise

112

150

80

70

103.3333

HR

SBP

DBP

PP

MAP

80

146

80

66

102

98

HR and BP during isometric plank

Ola

baseline

Matt

during exercise

116

190

110

80

136.667

45 sec after exercise

104

170

80

90

110

baseline

88

124

70

54

88

during exercise

120

160

90

70

113.333

45 sec after exercise

112

158

78

80

104.667

Dynamic exercise- Matt

Time
Baseline

HR (bpm)

SBP

DBP

PP

MAP

RPP

80

124

70

54

88

99.2

Stage 1

3 min

120

160

80

80

106.666667

192

Stage 2

3 min

140

164

80

84

108

229.6

Stage 3

3 min

173

190

90

100

123.333333

328.7

Cool Down

1 min

149

190

72

118

111.333333

283.1

1 min

134

160

70

90

100

214.4

1 min

127

150

70

80

96.6666667

190.5

2 min

107

140

74

66

96

149.8

4 min

107

128

78

50

94.6666667

136.96

Rest

Results
Although Matt had a higher HR (80bpm, 88bpm, 88 bpm) than Ola (72bpm, 80bpm,
96bpm) while lying supine and sitting on a chair his HR was higher while standing (Table 1 &
Figure1). Ola had a higher resting SBP in each condition (142mmHg, 146mmHg, 152 mmHg)
(Table 1). In each condition Ola had a greater PP than Matt (Table 1). Ola had a lesser MAP
(98mmHg compared to 111.33 mmHg) while lying supine than Matt but had a greater MAP

while sitting on a chair and standing (Table 1). During the static wall sits Ola and Matt reached
the same peak HR (128 bpm) during exercise but Matt heart showed better signs of recovery
(Table 2). Ola reached a maximum SBP during exercise of 196 mmHg while Matt reached a
maximum SBP of 160 mmHg. Although their baseline DBPs were different, their DBP during
exercise and 45 seconds after were identical (100 mmHg during exercise and 80 mmHg 45
seconds after). Olas PP was the same during exercise and 45 seconds after (96 mmHg).
During the isometric plank, Ola reached a maximum HR of 116 while Matt reached a
maximum HR of 120. Ola SBP dropped 20 points 45 seconds after exercise (190 mmHg to 170
mmHg) while Matt SBP dropped 2 points 45 seconds after exercise (160 mmHg to 158 mmHg).
Both Matt and Olas PP increased 10 points from exercise to 45 sec after exercise (Table 3). Ola
showcased a higher HR, SBP and DBP during the static wall sit compared to the isometric plank
(Table 2 & 3). Olas DBP and MAP were higher during the isometric plank. Matt reached the
same max SBP during the static wall sit and the isometric plank. Matts HR was higher during
the static wall sit. Both Matts DBP and MAP were higher during the static wall sit.
For both Ola and Matt they reached a higher HR during the static wall sit compared to the
isometric plank. We would expect to see a higher heart with an isometric exercise compared to a
dynamic, but that was not showcased with Matt (Table 2, 3 &4). Matt reached a max HR of 173
bpm during stage 3 of the dynamic exercise, which was 45 more points higher than his isometric
max HR (128 bpm). His SBP reached a peak of 190 mmHg and was able to get it very close to
his baseline SBP (124mmHg). His static wall sit produced a higher DBP (100) than his dynamic
exercise (90).

Figures:

Figure 1: Blood pressure over the duration of the dynamic exercise. Matts systolic blood
pressure (SBP) increases until the end of stage 3 and then decreases. His diastolic blood pressure
(DBP) increases until the end of stage 3 but increases from the cool down to rest. His mean
arterial pressure (MAP) follows the same trend as his SBP.

Figure 2: Relation of HR to the various stages of dynamic exercise. Matts HR increases

throughout the stages at a positive slope until it reaches the third stage and then it begins to
descend.

Figure #3 Heart Rate at rest while lying supine, sitting on a chair, and standing.
Matts Heart Rate increased from lying supine to sitting on a chair but stayed the same from
sitting on a chair to standing, while Olas Heart Rate continued to increase from lying supine to
standing.

Figure #4: Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) at rest while lying supine, sitting on a chair, and
standing.
Matts MAP decreases from lying supine to sitting on a chair but increases from sitting on a chair
to standing. Olas MAP increases from lying supine to standing.

Figure 5a: The comparison of Olas rate pressure product (RPP) at different points of exercise.
Olas RPP is higher at the point of fatigue and 45 seconds after for the wall sit compared to the
isometric plank..

Figure 5b: The comparison of Matts rate pressure product (RPP) at different points of exercise.
Matts RPP during his wall sit is higher at the point of fatigue but is lower than the plank 45
seconds after exercise.

Figure 6: The comparison of cycling mean arterial pressure (MAP), cycling pulse pressure (PP),
wall sit MAP and wall sit PP during different points of exercise. Matts cycling MAP, cycling
PP, and wall sit MAP all increase during exercise and then decrease during recovery. His wall sit
PP increases from baseline to recovery.

Discussion
What we expected to see was a higher SBP, DBP, PP, MAP & RPP with the isometric
exercise. That was not what was shown with Matts results. He reached a max SBP of 190
mmHg during the dynamic exercise but only reached a max SBP of 160 mmHg during both the
static wall sit and the isometric plank. His MAP was only three points higher during his dynamic
exercise versus his static wall sit. His DBP showcased what we expect to see. His DBP reached a
max of 100 mmHg during the static wall sit which was higher than the 90 mmHg recorded
during the dynamic exercise (Table 2 & 4).

As in the experiment done by (Weippert), they researched 23 males that did voluntary
exercise in a supine position in order to eliminate the effect of gravity on cardiac response. They
kept the heart rate similar between static exercise and dynamic exercise to ensure the same work
was being produced by the heart, but what they saw was an increase in SBP, DBP, MAP and RPP
in the static exercise. This means that his arterial filling increased during the static exercise as
opposed to the dynamic, which due to the increased HR had less time for arterial filling. Lydakis
states that workload is significantly higher in static exercise than in dynamic exercise.
Some limitations me might have encountered was human error. Two different people
measured HR and BP for the two subjects. Due to multiple people taking measurements, this can
lead to error in the measurements. For instance, one subject had a 98 DBP while lying supine
but a 70 DBP sitting and a 78 DBP standing. One of the subjects also stated that he had worked
out earlier in the day and was feeling the effects of the previous workout. The subject might not
have been able to hold the wall sit and plank as long as could have if his muscles were not
hurting. This could be the cause of the static HR and SBP not being as high as the dynamic.
Also anticipating that measurements would need to be taken at the point of fatigue one might
stop the static exercise prior to actual fatigue in order for the measurements to be taken. Also
HR could be elevated more than usual due to the phenomenon known as anticipatory HR or
white coat syndrome.
In conclusion, although we did not receive the outcome we were expecting it is still
important to know that static HR is higher than dynamic HR. This is important for people with
hypertension, because if they havent worked out in a while and they start trying to do maximal
isometric exercise it puts them at risk of having a heart attack. Also another problem that is
common is when people are doing static exercise, some beginners (and even some experts) forget

to breathe. This does not only lead to respiratory problems but cardiac ones as well. With static
exercise you already have limited oxygen available and then when you hold your breath you are
almost completely exercising with no oxygen.
Questions
There was a very similar response between dynamic and static exercise in mean arterial
pressure, however the wall sit pulse pressure exhibits a rise from baseline to exercise to recovery
versus a rise from baseline to exercise then a decrease from exercise to recovery in the pulse
pressure of cycling. This could be due to a very large amount of exertion that took place during a
maximal contraction of very large muscles all over the body. Maximal exercise has different
effects on the body versus submaximal aerobic exercise.
The heart was also found to work harder in the wall sit hold versus the plank hold in both
subjects. This can be attributed to a larger amount of muscle being used in a wall sit where the
gluteals, hamstrings, and quadriceps are maximally challenged versus the abdominals and
shoulders in a plank.
References
Lydakis, C., Momen, A., Blaha, C., Gugoff, S., Gray, K., Herr, M., & ... Sinoway, L. I. (2008).
Changes of central haemodynamic parameters during mental stress and acute bouts of static and
dynamic exercise. Journal Of Human Hypertension, 22(5), 320-328. doi:10.1038/jhh.2008.4
Mitchell, J. H., et al. "Response of arterial blood pressure to static exercise in relation to muscle
mass, force development, and electromyographic activity."Circulation research 48.6 Pt 2 (1981):
I70-5.
Singh, Jagmeet P., et al. "Blood pressure response during treadmill testing as a risk factor for
new-onset hypertension the Framingham heart study." Circulation99.14 (1999): 1831-1836.

Weippert, M., Behrens, K., Rieger, A., Stoll, R., & Kreuzfeld, S. (2013). Heart Rate Variability
and Blood Pressure during Dynamic and Static Exercise at Similar Heart Rate Levels. Plos ONE,
8(12), 1.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083690