Cardiovascular responses to velocity-specific isokinetic exercise.

This paper was part of a doctoral dissertation for the degree of Doctorate of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University and was presented at the Sports Physical Therapy Section Team Concept Meeting, December 1990, Orlando, FL. The purpose of this study was to measure cardiovascular responses to velocity-specific isokinetic exercise. Ten experienced recreational weight trainers, aged 20 to 40 years, took part in a repeated measures design consisting of three separate treatments (30 degrees /sec, 120 degrees /sec, and 300 degrees /sec performed maximally for one minute by the right knee flexors and extensors on an isokinetic dynamometer). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (RPP) were measured at rest and during peak response. There were no significant differences between the three treatments in increasing SBP and DBP, although peak SBP for all three treatments was above 188 mm Hg, clinically significant. The 300 degrees /sec treatment was significantly different (P < 0.05) than the 30 degrees /sec treatment on increasing HR and RPP. The data suggest that the magnitude of HR and RPP responses are strongly dependent on the velocity of movement utilized during maximal isokinetic exercise. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;13(1):28-32.