Exercise Physiology Lab Project

Unit II Exercise Lab Project

Purpose:

This lab project will involve gathering the data needed to determine how different activities affect the the metabolic rate. The four measurements that will be recorded are pulse, respiration rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Each activity is performed five times and the mean is recorded. The results will determine how activity affects the cardiovascular and respiratory system. The mean numbers are graphed and compared to determine if the data supports the following hypothesis. 

Hypothesis:

With increased activity there will be an increase in metabolic functions. 

Cells require oxygen. Oxygen and blood flow are required to keep the body functioning. Increased blood flow increases pulse and pressure. The respiration of the lungs is important for bringing oxygen throughout the body.     

Data will be recorded from three activities, eating, stretching/bending, and jumping jacks. It is expected that the metabolic rates will increase with increase in activity.  

Analysis of Data: Results of the data collected from the activities showed increase in metabolic rates for certain activities. The activities of stretching and jumping jacks matched the initial hypothesis in the expectation of increases in metabolic rate.

Some data that did not correspond with the hypothesis. The largest variance between the baseline readings and the first activity of eating appears in the systolic measurement. The data gathered from the activity of eating resulted in a decrease in the measurement of systolic blood pressure and only a slight increase in diastolic blood pressure. Respiration for the activity of eating increased just slightly. In gathering the data, some individual measurements of systolic and diastolic rates were lower after eating, surprisingly.    

Problems with data:

The systolic readings for activity one seem the most inconsistent.  Not sure if it is due to technique or if reading was taken inaccurately. If reading is accurate would eating which involves digestion reduce systolic blood pressure?

Conclusion:

During activity the heart needs to pump faster to get the flow of blood to the body parts and the need for oxygen during activity would raise metabolic rates. The data for activities 2 and 3 support the hypothesis. However, activity 1 did not support the theory because of the decrease in systolic bp.