Cardiovascular response

The main way to manage motor loads in fitness, as well as physical culture in general, are physiological changes in the body according to the reaction of the cardiovascular system.

1. Cardiovascular system of an athlete
2. Reaction of the cardiovascular system as an assessment of the athlete’s physical load
3. Contents of the article:

Cardiovascular system of an athlete

Every student must understand the main physiological laws, because the entire training process is built in accordance with them. As you already know, the power of the heart muscle is determined by two signs: stroke volume, that is, the amount of blood transported to the aorta per contraction, and minute volume, respectively equal to the product of this stroke volume and the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle (abbreviated HR). The heart rate indicator is the pulse. Controlling your pulse before classes, during exercise (or immediately upon its completion) and at the end of the lesson, the effectiveness of the educational and training process is checked.

When assessing physical load based on the reaction of the cardiovascular system, all participants must be able to count heart rate. You should start counting your pulse no later than 2-3 seconds after the load. The counting itself lasts 6 seconds, with further multiplication of the resulting figure by 10. A later start of the count and a longer counting time can lead to distorted (underestimated) results, since after the end of the load, the heart rate continues to remain at the same level of load for several seconds, and then starts to decline.

When counting the pulse in the usual way and telemetrically, it was found that the counting error at a heart rate of up to 150 beats is 2-3%, and at a heart rate of 180 on average 5%. Thus, counting the pulse carried out at the beginning and end of the load will allow one to fairly objectively monitor the effectiveness of the educational and training process and manage it in a timely manner.

Reaction of the cardiovascular system as an assessment of the athlete’s physical load

When assessing physical load based on heart rate, three approaches are mainly used:

1. by intensity zones;
2. by the difference between initial and final heart rates after exercise;
3. by percentage increase in heart rate after exercise and at baseline.

Classification of zones of intensity of physical exercises used in sports by athletes:

Intensity zones

Pulse rate, beats/min

Ratio in class, %

1. Restorative
2. Supportive
3. Developmental
4. Economizing
5. Submaximal
6. Maximum

114-132
138-150
156-168
174-186
186-192
192 or more

10-15
20-25
50-55
10-12
—
—

Heart rate response intensity zones is the most severe component of the load, therefore exercises of the educational and training process should be carried out only in 1-4 intensity zones (recovery heart rate - 110-130 beats/min, supporting heart rate - 130-150 beats/min, developing heart rate - 150-170 beats/min min, saving heart rate - 170-180 beats/min) and their various combinations. When solving special problems of physical education and sports training, all six intensity zones are used (plus: submaximal heart rate - 180-190 beats/min, maximum heart rate - 190 beats/min or more).

The individual reaction of the body of those involved in the total load can be judged by the heart rate immediately at the end of the training. With a light load, heart rate increases to 12% compared to the initial level after the final part of the training, with a medium load - up to 30%, with a large load - over 30%.

Load Impact Assessment Approach by the difference between the initial and final heart rates (after exercise) is used mainly for exercise that lasts more than five minutes (running, outdoor and sports games, etc.). The difference is assessed as follows: 25-30 beats/min - excellent, 31-40 beats/min - good, 41-55 beats/min - satisfactory, 56-75 beats/min - bad, over 76 beats/min - very bad.

Reaction approach percentage increase in heart rate after the load to the initial level it is used in physical education when individualizing the educational and training process and is assessed for an increase in:

1. 30-40% as low load,
2. 41-50% - below average,
3. 51-60% - average,
4. 61-75% - above average,
5. 76-95% - high load.

Cardiovascular system of an athlete,

The response of the cardiovascular system

Energy consumption at different heart rates.