Example Of Essay On Comparison Of Heart Rates During Walking And Riding Exercises

Abstract

This study explores the differences in metabolic requirements in walking and bicycle riding by comparing the heart rates of both exercises. The heart rates reflect the metabolic requirements of both exercises. The hypothesis of this study states that the heart rate (in pulse per minute) of walking is significantly lower than the bicycle riding. Heart rates were measured as pulse per minute (ppm) from a sample of college students in resting (462 samples), walking (464 samples) and bicycle riding (439 samples) exercises. The average heart rates were compared and the t-values were calculated to statistically justify the differences. The result showed that the average resting heart rate (73.73 ppm) was lower than walking (85.32 ppm) and riding (110.51 ppm). The result also showed that the walking heart rate was lower than the riding heart rate. Calculated t-values showed significant differences between walking and riding (t-value 3.23>0.15), and consequently supported the hypothesis. This result suggested the lower metabolic requirements of walking compared to riding.
Keywords: Exercise heart rates, metabolic requirements

Introduction

Exercise improves personal fitness and also reduces the risk of illness, as it decreases serum lipids and lipoproteins . Exercise also improves blood circulation by allowing increased blood volumes to organs including brain . Exercise consists of high and low impact exercises where the latter is thought to be safer and have lower risks of injury compared to the former . Walking and bicycle riding are examples of low-impact exercises that are becoming more common among college students. Walking decreases risk of cardiovascular diseases , while bicycle riding is known to improve fitness index . Both walking and bicycle riding requires optimal oxygen intake in respiration to allow aerobic process of energy generation in Kreb’s cycle .
Walking and bicycle riding have different intensities, and consequently have different metabolic requirements. The differences in heart rate indicate the differences in metabolic requirements for the two exercises. The heart rates indicate the body’s mechanism to fulfill these requirements, so the differences in heart rates may reflect the differences in metabolic requirements in walking and bicycle riding exercises. This study is aimed to investigate the differences by formulating the hypothesis that the heart rate during walking is significantly lower than that of bicycle riding exercises.

Materials and Methods

A sample of college students were selected to complete a data collection sheet. The data collection sheet also included a brief survey that asked about their age, height, and weight, as well as their habits such as smoking, exercise, etc. The experiment then required the student’s heart rate to be measured at a radial artery during a variety of activities. Heart rate was measured before the exercise (resting) and during the exercise. By measuring the heart rate at these intervals, it was expected to indicate any significant change in exercise from resting heart rate. After the data was collected, it was analyzed by compiling the information into an Excel spreadsheet. The heart rates of the students during walking were compared to the heart rates of students during bicycle riding exercise.
The heart rates measured during walking were placed into one column, while the heart rates measured during bicycle riding were placed in column two. Calculations were done to yield mean values for the two columns and also the differences in mean values of the two datasets. These values were used to further calculate the t-value. The t-value was used to determine the difference between the two measurements. A value higher than 0.15 would indicate a significant difference between the heart rates of the two exercises.

Results

The data showed that there were 462 samples of resting heart rates, 464 samples of walking heart rates and 439 samples of bicycle riding heart rates. Based on these samples, the calculated average of resting heart rate was 73.73 pulses per minute; the average walking heart rate was 85.32 pulses per minute and the average bicycle riding hear rate was 110.51 pulses per minute. The t-value for resting and walking averages was 1.80, while the t-value for resting and bicycle riding was 5.54. Furthermore, the calculated t-value for walking and bicycle riding heart rates was 3.23.

Conclusion

The average values showed that the heart rates of walking and the heart rates of bicycle riding were higher than the resting heart rate. Moreover, the t-values of resting and exercising heart rates confirmed that the exercising heart rates are significantly higher than the resting heart rates. These differences suggested that both exercises have higher metabolic requirements compared to resting. The average heart rate of walking was lower than that of bicycle riding. The calculated t-value of walking and bicycle riding heart rates confirmed that the heart rate of walking is significantly lower than that of bicycle riding. These findings support the hypothesis that the heart rate of walking is lower than the heart rate of bicycle riding; thus suggested that walking had lower metabolic requirements compared to bicycle riding.

Works Cited

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