Reprinted from THE RESEARCH QuarTERLY, March, 1942, Vol. 13, No. 1 Q-309

A Study of the Post-Exercise Heart Rate

By L. E. Morenouse, Ph.D.
University of Wichita

and W. W. Tutt Le, Ph.D.
State University of lowa

HE wide use of the response of the heart to exercise as a
ea of various physical phenomena has led to many and

varied procedures. The chief differences in the procedures lie
in the variety and strenuousness of the exercise employed, and the
phases of recovery used as indices.

Since the most common procedure is to utilize some part of the
post-exercise rate, attention is given to this phase in this investiga-
tion. The problem is approached by studying the post-exercise re-
sponse of the heart to bouts of work which have been standardized
and measured.

The investigation reported in this study aims to contribute to the
understanding of the nature of the response of the normal and the
abnormal heart to different intensities of various types of exercise.
The response of the heart to various exercises is studied with respect
to the following phases: (1) the post-exercise pulse rate, (2) the
pulse-ratio, and (3) the recovery time.

Procedure.—For the purpose of counting the heart rate in the in-
vestigations herein reported, an automatic counter was devised and
has been described.1_ The cardiotachometer is accurate, stable, and
simple to operate. It is capable of counting accurately while a simple
exercise is performed. The pulse rate is read directly from the
counter, thereby eliminating the objection of counting and recording.

The heart rate was recorded in surroundings as free from distrac-
tions as possible. The procedure for recording the pulse was as fol-
lows: the subject was admitted to the room and directed to strip to
the waist. If his chest was extremely hairy he was asked to remove
the hair from about a 6-inch square just below the left nipple, with
an electric razor. His name, age, and any other historical information
desired was recorded and his weight and height were ascertained.
The subject reclined on a bed. He was told to lie quietly and to
refrain from talking. The cardiotachometer electrodes were attached
to the chest and a series of pulse rate recordings were made in the
reclining position. The resting rate was recorded in the reclining
position, because observations of a continuous record of reclining,

1L. E. Morehouse and W. W. Tuttle, “An Electric Pulse Counter,” Jour.
Lab. and Clin. Med., 24 (August 1930) 1213.