Abstract

Background: Aerobic exercise reduces body fat and improves weight control, increases high-density lipoprotein and Vo2max (maximal oxygen consumption), decreases resting heart rate (RHR) and systolic blood pressure (BP), which in turn reduces rate pressure product (RPP). Although aerobic exercise improves cardiac fitness, the relative merits of different intensities of aerobic exercise in improving cardiac fitness are still uncertain.

Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to know the effect of high- and low-intensity aerobic training on RPP.

Materials and Methods: A total of 80 sedentary men (18–40 years) were randomized into two equal groups (high-intensity and low-intensity group). The high- (80% HR max) and low-intensity (50% HR max) groups underwent aerobic exercise training using bicycle ergometer (COSCO) at 900 kpm and 540 kpm, for 15 min/day and 30 min/day, respectively, 5 days a week, for a period of 12 weeks. RHR and BP of each subject were recorded using digital sphygmomanometer (ACCUMAM) before and after intervention.


Results: After 12 weeks of aerobic training, both the exercise groups had improvement in cardiac fitness, but high-intensity group had a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in cardiac fitness, i.e., reduction in RPP (100.18–80.14) than low-intensity group (102–100.6).

Conclusion: High-intensity aerobic exercise is effective in improving cardiac fitness.

Key words: Bicycle Ergometer; Body Fat Percentage; Rate Pressure Product; Body Mass Index