Department of Health Development, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.
J Occup Health. 2011;53(5):343-9. doi: 10.1539/joh.11-0048-oa. Epub 2011 Aug 5.
Metabolic equivalents (METs) and relative metabolic rate (RMR) as calculated by oxygen uptake (VO(2)) are often used to assess physical exertion. In practice, accurate measurements of VO(2) are difficult; heart rate (HR) values represent an alternate index of physical exertion. We investigated whether one can assess physical exertion based on HR in the workplace, even if the physical task in question involves alternating periods of strenuous anaerobic activity and rest. We also examined the potential usefulness of assessments based on percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR) and percentage of oxygen uptake reserve (% VO(2)R).
Six healthy men were asked to perform several physical movements. HR and VO(2) were recorded in real time.
HR and VO(2) are significantly correlated even under conditions of various repeated intermittent movements including anaerobic exertion. Cumulative fatigue results in inadequate recovery in various parameters indicating sufficient rest times, whereas VO(2) values recover immediately. One movement may generate large differences in HR among individuals, but not in VO(2). We found no significant differences between dispersion for %HRR and VO(2)R. However, as with HR, %HRR values indicated insufficient recovery after strenuous exertion.
VO(2) alone does not adequately reflect the exertion entailed by certain physical activities. HR is more useful than VO(2) in evaluating the exertion required by physical labor in individual workers. While we can use %HRR and % VO(2)R to compare physical exertion from individual to individual, %HRR is more valuable, since % VO(2)R can underestimate physical exertion in recovery periods for the same reasons as VO(2).
代谢当量（MET）和相对代谢率（RMR）通过耗氧量（VO₂）计算，常用于评估体力活动。在实践中，准确测量 VO₂较为困难；心率（HR）值是体力活动的替代指标。我们研究了即使所涉及的体力任务包括剧烈的无氧活动和休息交替期，是否可以基于 HR 来评估工作场所的体力活动。我们还研究了基于心率储备百分比（%HRR）和摄氧量储备百分比（% VO₂R）评估的潜在用途。
要求 6 名健康男性进行几次身体运动。实时记录 HR 和 VO₂。
即使在包括无氧运动在内的各种重复间歇性运动条件下，HR 和 VO₂也具有显著相关性。累积疲劳导致各种参数恢复不足，尽管休息时间充足，但 VO₂值会立即恢复。一项运动可能会导致个体之间的 HR 差异较大，但 VO₂则不会。我们发现 %HRR 和 VO₂R 的分散性之间没有显着差异。然而，与 HR 一样，%HRR 值在剧烈运动后显示出恢复不足。
单独的 VO₂不能充分反映某些体力活动所涉及的体力消耗。在评估个体工人体力劳动所需的体力时，HR 比 VO₂更有用。虽然我们可以使用 %HRR 和 % VO₂R 来比较个体之间的体力消耗，但 %HRR 更有价值，因为 % VO₂R 可能会由于与 VO₂相同的原因而低估恢复期间的体力消耗。
