Validity of heart rate work rate relationship as an index of metabolic transitive point determination during incremental exercise test

2.ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of heart rate work rate relationships as an index of anaerobic threshold estimation which is an important health criteria. Total of 70 subjects (35 male and 35 female) were participated. Each subject was performed an incremental exercise test (15 watts/min) until the limit of tolerance. During exercise, heart rate was measured using polar heart rate watch, respiratory parameters were estimated using spirometry. Anaerobic threshold was estimated non-invasively using ventilation work rate relationships and compared with heart rate work rate relationship. There was a linear relationships between heart rate and work rate in 13 male and 22 female subjects. Heart rate work rate relationship showed deflection to left side on 9 male and 5 female, and right side on 13 male and 8 female subjects. Unfortunately, we have found a good relationships between anaerobic threshold and heart rate deflection point only 3 male subjects. Consequently, it has been shown that heart rate deflection point may not provide an accurate aerobic to anaerobic metabolic transition point which is also called as the anaerobic threshold. Thus, investigators or clinicians must be careful when preparing exercise training program using heart rate deflection point. Key words: Exercise test, anaerobic threshold, heart rate.