Calisthenic exercise-induced changes in myocardial oxygen consumption in normotensive healthy subjects.

Abstract

The product of heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) provides a convenient estimate of myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). This study aimed to explore calisthenic exercise-induced changes in MVO2 in healthy normotensive subjects. Eleven college-female students were recruited for this study. They performed one upper extremity and one lower-extremity one-minute calisthenic exercise. Each exercise was practiced with slow, moderate and fast cadences. Values of pre- and post-exercise HR and SBP were used to calculate pre- and post-exercise rate pressure product (RPP) (RPP= HR X SBP). Percentage of change between pre- and post-exercise RPP (% “ RPP) was used to estimate the calisthenic exercise-induced changes in MVO2 (% “ RPP= [(Post -exercise RPP- Pre - exercise RPP) ÷ Pre-exercise RPP] X 100). One-minute calisthenic exercise resulted in increased post-exercise RPP estimating increase in MVO2 demand. This increase was influenced by the three selected exercise cadences (P value is 0.029 for upper-extremity and 0.0001 for lower extremity). Results observed that more MVO2 is required with lower-extremity calisthenic exercise than with upper extremity exercise. Progressive increase in the % “ RPP was found through the three cadences and it was of no significance in upper-extremity exercise (P = 0.208) and significance in lower-extremity exercise (P = 0.023). In conclusion, One-minute calisthenic exercise revealed minimal exercise-induced changes in MVO2 for normotensive healthy female college-students especially with upper-extremity. If convalescing cardiac patient would show the same response, One-minute calisthenic exercise with its three cadences would be supported as a low intensity and safe exercise for Phase I cardiac rehabilitation.